in their own words

Voices, unedited.

Students who felt the pull to fit in. Parents learning when to step back. Educators who watch it happen every year.

Sixteen short clips, about a minute each, from conversations Glenn Llopis has hosted on his podcast and at his summits. Tap any clip to listen. Every video is captioned.

For teens For families For schools and communities

for teens

You're not the only one editing.

Young people on fitting in, choosing a path, and what it took to claim who they are.

“Hey, you can be yourself”

Brielle Lubin

Student speaker, 2019 Leadership in the Age of Personalization Summit. Recorded at 14 years old.

“What you do is not who you are”

Pete Baron

Recorded when he was a junior at Fairfield University

“There isn't one right way to lead your life”

Pete Baron

Recorded when he was a junior at Fairfield University. Author of If Only We Knew.

“Students need to first figure out who they are”

Ndubueze Okonkwo

Recorded when he was a junior at Columbia University

“Told to go doctor, lawyer or failure”

Tommy Nguyen

Recorded when he was a senior at the University of Southern California

“Kind of suppressed who I am”

Madi Fawcett

Recorded when she was a senior at the University of Denver

“For me there was no one like me”

Fionna Beckman

Recorded when she was a student at the University of Florida

for families

What young people want parents to hear.

On letting them choose, letting them fail, and trusting who they are becoming.

“You have to let them choose”

Madi Fawcett

Recorded when she was a senior at the University of Denver

“It's okay to fail”

Ndubueze Okonkwo

Recorded when he was a junior at Columbia University

“I just dropped my kid off with strangers”

Joy Fawcett

U.S. Women's National Team, 1987 to 2004

“My kids have no schedule”

Joy Fawcett

U.S. Women's National Team, 1987 to 2004

“How would I explain this to my parents?”

Dr. Scott Lacy

Associate Dean, Fairfield University

for schools and communities

Adults who see it happening.

Educators and leaders on the editing they watch in young people, and what it costs later.

“I don't even know who I am anymore”

Dr. Rosie Ward

Salvo Partners. Author of Future-Proofing Leadership.

“They're gonna see pictures of the party”

Andy Sulick

President, Santa Margarita Catholic High School

“Hey, I care about you”

Nathan Long

President, Saybrook University

“They wanted them to blend”

Jesus Mantas

IBM Consulting

your turn

Where do you edit yourself?

The Edit Map walks through the five rooms, Self, Home, School, Peers and Screen, and shows where you hold back. About three minutes, and your answers are never saved.

Try The Edit Map Join a free live session