Boys Answer Questions From Their 6th-Grade Selves After 7 Years

Imagine sitting down with your 12-year-old self and answering the questions they burned to know. That's exactly what happened to students at McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In 2018, sixth-grade boys recorded videos speaking directly to their future selves. They asked about favorite movies, hobbies, and life lessons they'd learn along the way.

Seven years later, now mostly 18, they sat down to answer. The results are remarkably sweet.

Young Ward wanted to know if Mexican food would still be his favorite. Older Ward grins and confirms it absolutely is, rattling off his favorite restaurants without hesitation.

A boy named Will asked if world history would remain his favorite subject. "Not world history anymore," his older self responds. "I'm a science guy now."

Star Wars stayed Canon's favorite movie. The Rubik's Cube remained a beloved hobby for another student. These time capsules captured both what changed and what stayed wonderfully the same.

But the deepest moments came when younger boys asked for life advice. "What is the biggest life lesson you have learned so far?" young Will asks.

Older Will doesn't sugarcoat it. He talks about trying your hardest, taking challenging classes, and learning from the times you don't give full effort. "You'll end up doing it," he tells his younger self with a knowing laugh.

Canon's answer cuts straight to the heart. "Always be kind to others and always love others. Just treat your neighbors as you would yourself."

Another Will echoes this wisdom. "Be kind to everyone every chance you get. You don't get a chance to take things back or do things differently."

Why This Inspires

Brandan Roberts, the school's video director, was inspired by the movie Boyhood to create this project. "It was the first month of school. Our school starts in sixth grade, so these were brand new students that I did not know," he said.

When filming in 2025, several students had forgotten about the original recordings. Their reactions to seeing their younger selves were completely genuine.

Roberts remembers Will Turrell's emotional commitment to the project. "I was standing about 20 feet away with just the cameras rolling so he could be in the right headspace, and I remember getting chills when he gave his answers," Roberts said. "It was just a real human moment."

The videos have spread across social media, accumulating thousands of likes and heartfelt comments. One father of three boys wrote he wasn't ready for this reminder of how fast time moves.

These young men didn't just answer questions about movies and food, they reminded us what matters most: kindness, effort, and treating others well.