When Jeremiah McDonald was 12 years old, he recorded a message for his future self. In the video, he fired off a list questions and twenty years later, Jeremiah (now a filmmaker) sat down to answer them.
Jeremiah turned the two videos into a clip called ‘A conversation with my 12-year-old self’ and the result – his 12-year-old self interviewing his 32-year-old self – is really quite amazing.
It’s notched up more than 4 million views since it was loaded to YouTube last week. You’ll see why.
So, if you could go back and ask your adult-self a question, what would it be?
Comments
9 Comments so far
I love this also! It really made me think…what would the 12 year old me disappointed that I had stopped doing…?
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I love this !!! …..Jeremiah was a bright, quirky, forward-thinking kid and the 32yr old version is clearly talented and self-deprecating – most worthy of employing and I hope he’s doing really well.
We have a favourite British TV series called “7-Up” which starts with interviews done in 1956 with 7yr olds of varying social groups. Every 7 years these same children have been re-visited until now (at 56yrs of age) we get to see them evolve into mature adults…….this stuff is FASCINATING and an important social document.
What would I tell my 12yr old self ?………well, you will be allowed to grow your hair long, that puppy fat will disappear (for a while). The years so far spent learning to tap dance WILL be used once in a professional show, those long-winded “conversations” you have with yourself in the backyard dunny about the state of the world will one day prove kind of useful and those pop songs & “funny voices” will actually earn you a modest living……….would I have been happy with this news ? You bet.
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I would tell my 12 year old self not to stress you get boobs and a boyfriend (but dump him once at uni)
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wow, i loved them both.
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I like the 12yr old better than the adult.
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I’d encourage my 12yr old self to believe that she has control over who she is and what she achieves… and chin up, things will change!!
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Yes, I saw this on the weekend – although the idea is clever from a 12 year old that the saw into the future, and that now as a 30 something year old he could respond to the video… the video itself is boring, the performance of the 30 year old irritating, and I disengaged after the first barrage of stupid me, respond to me, me diatribe.
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Yes! I was the same. LOVED the concept when I heard of it, and then when I sat down to watch it with my partner we both just shrugged and switched it off at about the half way mark.
Lost in the execution I think, but still a fantastic idea and good on him for doing it for his own personal satisfaction (and millions of others who enjoyed it!).
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I guess not all things resonate with everyone – I loved the execution.
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