A letter from Jan 20, 2026

Dear FutureMe, Dear me, as a student and teacher of writing a feel a tug-of-war right now within my psyche. Part of me is hopeful. I am hopeful of the impact that I might have, of what the future might hold, of what lies ahead. But I also feel hopeless in a sense. A cynical, perhaps “realist” part of me fears that the very job of English educators is at threat. Even outside of the politics, which no doubt is grim, students are struggling in ways that I am afraid to see in the classroom. I fear the rise of AI, and the decline of critical thinking ability more than anything. I feel like I need to learn about how I can combat these large, monstrous systemic and cultural issues. How the hell can I promote literacy if even I find it harder and harder to read everyday? It is a difficult question, and the prevalence of short-form content and the disincentivization of reading as a whole has troubled me for a while now. I hope that in the future, I can be a beacon of literacy for students. Even if it is one classroom at a time, I want to combat the very hand of late-stage capitalism and its consequences through my teaching abilities. As corny as I think I sound right now, that really is my resolve. I know with the right dedication to my field, I can become that teacher that I want to be. Signed, yours truly, Elvir Llika