It's impossible not to wonder what the future holds, and most of us at some point, wish we could have a chance to just once connect with our younger selves. One Tennessee school made that a reality in a video allowing five students the opportunity to do just that.
In a May 19 TikTok shared by McCallie School, a boys' preparatory school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is satisfying the relatable curiosity about our inner selves with a post featuring members of the Class of 2025. In it, the five students sit down to ask questions they recorded as sixth graders, ones about hobbies, interests and life lessons. Are they still into the same foods and sports as they were seven years ago? Was "Water Boy" or maybe "Star Wars" still their favorite movie? Ultimately, years down the line, were the versions of themselves who asked those questions still recognizable?
Now, seven years later, Canon Brock, Will Turrell, Nkenge Ashford, Christian Lawhorn and Ward Richey have answers.
"In 2018 we interviewed McCallie 6th graders," a caption for the post shared to the school's TikTok, already viewed 4.9 million times, reads. "Now it’s time for these same McCallie seniors to answer their childhood questions."
“Hey, Canon, this is your sixth-grade self. Remember me? I’ve got a few questions for you," young Canon Brock begins.
Each of the students echoes the same question and more, setting the stage for reflection on growth and self-appreciation.
Canon, for example, asks his older self, "Is your favorite hobby still solving a Rubik’s Cube, just like me?"
Canon, older now, smirks at himself as he responds. “I thought I was so tough being able to do that back in the day.
"Is your favorite movie still 'Star Wars'?" a younger Nkenge asks.
"My favorite movie is probably still 'Star Wars', yeah," he says now with a grin.
The questions continue with some answers revealing that while some things are just ingrained in us, others can shift over time.
"The stutter is crazy," Canon observes with a chuckle after he watches his younger-self stumble as he asks, “Also, uh, what is your favorite, uh, what is your favorite sport? Is it still soccer?”
"No. Football, definitely," Canon adds. "Go Birds."
"Not world history anymore," Will responds to his own question about his favorite subject. "I'm a science guy now.
The video takes a more reflective tone as the sixth-graders ask their wiser, future selves, "What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned thus far?"
"Try your hardest. No matter what," Will replies seven years later. "You'll feel bad if you didn't do it. You take enough AP classes and hard classes over the four years of high school, you'll realize what happens when you don't try hard. So, you better do it."
“Always be kind to others and always love others. Just treat your neighbor as you would treat yourself,” Christian today answers.
When Will is asked, "What life advice would you have given me as a sixth grader?", his answer touches on generosity.
"Be kind to everyone every time you can," he says. "You don’t get a chance to take things back or do things differently, so try to do it in the best way you can."
The post ends with the students, now young men on their way to college, sharing where their future lies.
Ward is off to the University of the South, also known as Sewanee. Will will attend Yale University to study mechanical engineering, Nkenge is matriculating to Tennessee Wesleyan University to play lacrosse, Canon will go to Mississippi State and Christian will be attending University of Alabama.
It's not surprising that the post struck a chord with viewers on TikTok.
“Be kind .. to everyone.. every time you can,” one user wrote in response to Will's advice. "So well spoken."
"I just know their mamas sobbed watching this," one user replied, while another added, "why'd this make me so emotional. I miss being young."
