[ADDRESS]
Emily O’Loughlin
c/o Northern Iowan
L011 Maucker Union
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0166

[SALUTATION]
Dear readers of the Northern Iowan (including, but not limited to, University of Northern Iowa students, faculty, staff and administrators):
[FORMALITIES/INTRODUCTION]
I write this letter to you today for two reasons. Firstly, I would like to say a farewell to the Northern Iowan, as I will not be writing (regularly) next semester. Secondly, I would like to encourage anyone who reads this to write a letter in the next month.

When we were younger, some of us wrote to Santa. Others might remember the seasonal flood of cards with greetings and well wishes and yearly updates from family and family friends.

[COMMENTS]
Sadly, writing letters as a means of communication has fallen rather out of fashion as email, text messages and instant messaging, Facebook and other electronic media have grown more popular. This is a shame, as a letter can brighten someone’s day amid the usual mess of bills and advertisements (or plain emptiness) in the mailbox.

Over the years, I have become pen pals with about a dozen friends with whom I wish to stay in touch. It would be possible to do so through email or an occasional Facebook message.

But some aspect of choosing a particular card or stationery, taking the time to write (or rather print) in your own hand and knowing that it will arrive, an unexpected surprise, is just irreplaceable. It’s a way to show that you are thinking of the recipient.

In an increasingly digitized, technology-filled world, the physical and manual things stand out in contrast. It’s a reminder that even if we are in some sort of virtual world like in “The Matrix,” the things we do here and now are real enough to us to matter to ourselves and others.

In a letter, you can ask questions of your recipient, give long answers, include stories or pictures and share a part of your life. It may get messy or be somewhat less organized than if you have a chance to correct and spell-check everything as in an email, but that’s a great part of the fun!
Writing a letter can also be a way to take a break from something that is frustrating or tedious (like some homework or studying) and refresh your mind. Perhaps you can write a letter to your future self to remind you what you liked or didn’t like about the past semester.

[CONCLUSION]
In conclusion, I would again challenge you to write to someone this month of December. It can be as simple as a card and “hello” or a more formalized letter like this. Write to a friend, a relative, an acquaintance, a coworker or Santa, whether for fun or with an agenda. It doesn’t matter; just write!
I would like to again thank those who take their time to read the Northern Iowan, and especially those who put it all together. The editorial staff always works hard, and still finds the time to have fun with their jobs.

[CLOSING]
My best regards and well wishes to all,
Emily M. O’Loughlin