Five graduating seniors from McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, recently captivated the internet in a heartwarming and humorous viral video. In a creative twist on a “time capsule,” the all-boys boarding school had filmed the students in sixth grade back in 2018, asking questions to their future selves. Now, seven years later, the same students, Canon Brock, Will Turrell, Nkenge Ashford, Christian Lawhorn, and Ward Richey, returned to answer those questions as high school seniors.
Posted on TikTok by McCallie School on Monday, May 19, the video has since received more than six million likes, drawing laughter and emotion from viewers. The questions ranged from simple topics like hobbies and favorite subjects to more profound reflections on life and character. The seniors’ candid responses offered both lightheartedness and introspection, making the video a viral hit with a universal appeal.
From Childhood Curiosity to Teenage Wisdom
In the video, sixth-grade Canon Brock asks if solving a Rubik’s Cube is still his favorite hobby. His senior self chuckles, saying, “I thought I was so tough being able to do that back in the day.” He also laughs at his younger self’s stammer when asking about sports, replying with a smirk, “The stutter is crazy. No. Football, definitely. Go Birds.”
Turrell admits he’s no longer a history buff, having now shifted to a love of science. Ashford reveals his affection for Star Wars hasn’t wavered over the years. While many answers were lighthearted and playful, the tone deepens when the students are asked more thoughtful questions by their past selves.
Lawhorn, prompted by his sixth-grade version asking about life’s most important lesson, responds sincerely: “Always be kind to others and always love others. Just treat your neighbor as you would yourself.” The moment marks a powerful shift in the video’s tone, showcasing the emotional growth of the boys into young men ready to step into adulthood.
McCallie School Seniors Saying Goodbye and Looking Ahead
Graduating on Sunday, May 18, the five young men not only reflected on how they had changed but also on what they would carry with them from their time at McCallie School. Brock spoke about the value of connection, saying, “Reaching out to people is probably the most important step you can take to building friendships, a career, all sorts of things in life.”
Each student now looks forward to the next chapter: Brock will attend Mississippi State University, Turrell is heading to Yale, Ashford will join Tennessee Wesleyan University, Lawhorn is enrolled at the University of Alabama, and Richey will attend the University of the South–Sewanee.
As the video closes, Ashford expresses what many high school graduates feel: “Some of the guys I’ve been with for seven years, and it’s just a special relationship. I think I’ll miss the people I’m here with the most.” The video stands as both a celebration of personal growth and a touching reminder of the friendships and memories that define our formative years.
