May 23, 2021 • 27 mins
We are supposed to be on a break between seasons of Boldly Stated. But, I couldn't pass up the chance to have this powerful conversation, and I definitely couldn't wait to share it with you. In one of my favorite episodes of all time, Sam, Nick, and Zoe share their unfiltered perspectives on navigating the "pandemic" school year as students and young adults.
Samantha is a sophomore in college, Zoe is a freshman in college, and Nick is a senior in high school (graduating tomorrow!). Oh, and in the spirit of full disclosure, Sam and Nick are my kids.
This episode is dedicated to all the students and teachers. It wasn't always pretty. But, we did it!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kim Bolourtchi (00:00):
This is Kim Bolourtchi and you're listening
to Boldly Stated. So I'msupposed to be on a break right
now. But an opportunitypresented itself that I simply
cannot pass up. I have with metoday, Samantha, Zoe and Nick,
who are in three differentplaces in their educational
path. And today, I have a chanceto ask them directly what is
(00:23):
going on in their world? I'lltell you that they're looking at
me right now, really a littlebit on edge is their chairs
because they don't know what I'mabout to ask them. And that's
the way it goes here. Right. Inever tell anyone what's about
to happen. So are you guys alittle nervous?
Nick (00:39):
Yeah, definitely a little bit. Yeah. Knowing knowing you I
know, there's definitelysomething in store. So I'm for
sure. waiting.
Kim Bolourtchi (00:46):
Okay, awesome.
So one of the things I am reallycurious about and, you know,
this is Boldly Stated, sothere's no holding back, and you
don't need to worry abouthurting my feelings. I want you
to be really honest with youranswers. And as we're getting to
this place, where this year thatfeels like 100 years is about to
(01:06):
end. And I know this year hasbeen really, really tough. So
just really quickly, I wouldlove to hear from each of you.
What do you think you are takingout of this as you move forward?
You want to start Sam? Yeah,absolutely.
Samantha (01:21):
I'm taking away from an educational standpoint, I
think it's taught me a level ofpatience, I didn't realize that
I would have to have, especiallywith the trickiness of online
learning. All in all, it justtaught me not to take anything
for granted.
Kim Bolourtchi (01:39):
so Zoe How about you, what do you take out of
this year of pandemic health?
Zoe (01:45):
I think the biggest thing for me is the appreciation of
those who learned online priorto the pandemic, because it
makes me have a respect forthose who can do this and
persevere in a way that I havefound that I kind of tend to
drop off with, with onlinelearning.
Kim Bolourtchi (02:02):
Because it's rough.
Zoe (02:03):
Yeah, absolutely.
Kim Bolourtchi (02:05):
Nick?
Nick (02:06):
Yeah, definitely. I couldn't agree more with Sam,
about the patience. Because, youknow, I'm definitely the type of
person that really likes to behands on and, and learning with
my friends and learning with myteachers and really interacting
with what I'm doing, becausethat's how I feel like I can
really enrich myself and whatI'm learning. So this year being
virtual for a good chunk of it,you know, it really was
(02:27):
upsetting. So it really didteach me how to reach out and
expand my horizon with myfriends and my activities to
keep myself busy. So I'mdefinitely looking forward to,
to things going back to normalfor sure, though,
Kim Bolourtchi (02:39):
That's awesome.
And do you think they're reallygoing to go back to normal?
Nick (02:43):
You know, personally, I feel like if people really just
pretend that this is completelyover, and that vaccine solved
it, I feel like it, it willnever go back to normal. Because
honestly, the the fact thatpeople are already taking their
masks off in public is somethingthat I don't feel like we're
completely ready for. So youguys want to add to that at all?
(03:06):
What do you think?
Zoe (03:06):
I think normal is a tricky word to use in this situation, I
think normal will never be ouroriginal normal prior to the
pandemic. And I think that, youknow, there's a new courtesy,
with masks moving forward, Ithink there's a new courtesy
with kind of how we interactwith humans and you know,
personal space and the courtesyaround being sick, regardless of
(03:28):
being COVID, or whatever it be.
Kim Bolourtchi (03:32):
Yeah. Are you are you freaked out by this idea
of it not going back to normal?
Samantha (03:37):
Not necessarily.
Because every chance to dip yourfoot in something different,
like shows you somethingdifferent and gives you a
different perspective. However,I think going into it with the
idea of the things that we hadbefore is just going to set
yourself up to be behind I thinkhaving an open mind and knowing
(03:58):
that things are going to have tochange around a little bit. And
there are going to be somethings that you're going to stop
and say, Well, this wasn't likethis before. And that's
something that you're going tohave to deal with. It's
something we're going to have towork around. Nick do you want to
add to that?
Nick (04:14):
Yeah, Yeah. So I really think that like everything you
have to adapt to survive withthe changing times, just like we
always have, just like, youknow, with new phones, you have
to learn how they work with newcars. You have to adapt to all
the buttons and teach yourparents how to use them. And I'm
sorry, Mom, you said to behonest, so there goes my
Saturday. Nice. Oh, no, but Ireally feel like if people don't
(04:37):
adapt to the change, they'll beleft behind.
Kim Bolourtchi (04:40):
So let me ask you this. Do you think that your
generation or my generation isgoing to come out ahead on the
other side of the pandemic?
Nick (04:51):
I'm sorry, to my generation, but I don't think we
have a chance of coming outahead. I think that honestly,
the way that our generation isSeeing the pandemic as kind of a
light topic and honestly, movingforward and how a lot of you
know, some people that I knowand that I guarantee you guys
know that don't really take itseriously. I feel like as time
(05:13):
goes on, the more severe topicsand matters that our generation
has to handle, will not be, wewon't be able to handle them.
Samantha (05:21):
I would like to counter Okay, I may please
known, the reason I do is yes, Ihave faith in my generation.
However, I'm not going to speakfor my entire generation. I am
going to say though, that Istill believe that our
generation is influenced in partby our parents, and by the older
generations above us that havehad more years on our life have
(05:42):
seen more things, and the thingsthat they're seeing, despite us
getting older and becomingadults of our own. We're still
looking and we're stilllistening, and we can still
hear. And I think that with thenewfound awareness that our
generation has about allcontroversial topics,
personally, I think if we getour shit together, because it's
(06:03):
boldly stated, we might actuallybe able to come out as equals
ever.
Kim Bolourtchi (06:10):
What do you think Zoe?
Zoe (06:11):
I think there's actually going to rise on social media, I
mean, with tik tok andInstagram, and there's been a
large influence of kind oforiginality and being yourself.
And I don't know if it's becauseof the pandemic. And because
people are given more time toreally like, sit with their
thoughts and be by themselves.
But I believe that movingforward, there is a lot more of
(06:33):
like, some found independencewithin our generation for sure.
And found like awareness of whopeople are, and who they really
want to become. I love that. Iagree.
Nick (06:48):
I want to pose a question to to honestly, everyone,
because I would love to hearyour guys's opinions on this.
And anyone who's listening. Youknow, there's there's always
that debate, whether it's onFacebook, whether it's in
person, whether it's over lunch,whether it's your generation, or
our generation, you know, yourgeneration, it's the news, it's,
you know, whether it's Fox, CNN,it's the blue in the red, right?
(07:10):
It's the post on Facebook, aboutmasks, will you see, for our
generation, it's the tick tock,the Snapchat, the blue in the
red, it's almost like a predivider to what you guys are
already experiencing. And soit's like, even though we're to
now and and we're not listeningto the fox news, or the CNN, tik
tok has been that platform thatI feel like is already starting
(07:34):
to divide teens and younger kidswho have no idea what they're
even fighting over, you know,reading some of the comments.
And in these social mediaplatforms, it's like, you know,
people think that their commentsand who they're siding with
doesn't matter. And so I wouldlove to think that if you guys
agree with me, or you disagreewith me, I would love to hear
that. I agree. wholeheartedly. Ithink you just post that.
Samantha (07:55):
Absolutely correct. I think that there has been so
much influence without evenrealizing it. Because we're so
in touch with social media, wekind of always have technology
has really lifted and taken offas we've grown up. And we've all
I, you know, we've all hadparents who've let us indulge in
this technology. And with thisnew platform, I see comments,
(08:18):
one that confused me. And two, Ifeel exactly that they kind of
pull away from thatindividuality, because they see
1.1 million likes on a post. Andthey could comment something
truthful, that completelydisagrees. But they know that
the counter argument is going tobe a flood of comments that are
(08:39):
not nice, and won't go tosupport who they are. And that
sucks. Absolutely.
Zoe (08:46):
So 100% agree that there is Yeah, the division of where
we're getting our reliablesources from? And what are our
current generation and youngergenerations are listening to and
how they're moving forward withdivision of politics, division
of water would be really,
Kim Bolourtchi (09:08):
how much of it do you think is coming from
parents?
Nick (09:12):
You know, I, I think a lot of it is, and here's why, you
know, we've always had theprivilege and the awesome
pleasure of eating dinner withyou and dad. And you know, our
guests that come over and wehave dinner and we don't talk
about, you know, our days, likeregular people, I must say, you
know, we really dive into thosetopics that a lot of people
(09:33):
don't want to touch because it'sawkward or it's uncomfortable.
But you know, you have alwaysmade that comfortable in that
uncomfortable space even morecomfortable. So anything that we
have felt that, you know, we maywant to discuss, we talk about
and I feel like today, parentsare a lot more disconnected with
their kids, but I really do feellike it. It stems from the
parents. Do you think that
Kim Bolourtchi (09:54):
kids don't have independent thoughts, or do you
think that they're just afraidto express them?
Samantha (10:01):
I think kids definitely have independent
thought. And I think they arewilling to express them. I think
it's the social backlash thatthey're worried about more than
anything. And that comes fromtheir parents as well. It's not
always the dinner tableconversations. It's not always
the sit down, and let's spill itall out. It's the things we hear
under the adult breath. And thethings we hear in passing the
(10:23):
looks that we see. It's not justverbal, it's body language.
It's, it encompasses like awhole other area of an analysis,
basically, of our parents, andjust adults in our lives, they
can be teachers as well, like itdoesn't necessarily have to be
in the family to have more of animpact than I think we think. So
(10:44):
I think, yes, to both and no toboth. Yeah.
Nick (10:47):
I just wanted to say, you know, how you said something
about teachers, right, being,you know, those people that we
we take, you know, ideas fromand we really look up to, well,
I've really noticed that, morethan ever. The people that have
the most likes that have themost influence, that are
sponsored by all the brands,those are the ones we tend to
listen to, regardless of wherethey're getting their
(11:08):
information. For instance, youcould have someone who has 100
Million Likes, say, you know,Hey, guys, this shirt is no
longer cool. And I guarantee youso many people wouldn't even
think as to why the shirt wascool, or not cool. They would
just listen.
Kim Bolourtchi (11:21):
Yeah, I mean, to your point, um, when Elon Musk
was on Saturday Night Live, hemade a joke about Bitcoin, a
joke, and it crashed the nextday. So I mean, if that doesn't
make your point, I can't thinkof another example. Yeah. Of how
influenced by influencers weare.
Nick (11:41):
And you know, I love how you brought that up. Because
recently, I was watching a, youknow, a video on YouTube. And a
YouTuber who has absolutelynever talked about
cryptocurrency was talking aboutit more than he ever had. And it
was Bitcoin, he was talkingabout how he had to buy it, he
was, you know, constantlywatching it. And so it's amazing
how someone like Elon Musk inthat position can simply make a
(12:02):
joke and change someone's entireday. So,
Kim Bolourtchi (12:06):
yeah, you know, I sort of had this opinion that
my generation, I mean, the thesplit that you see, you know, on
social media and on Facebook,it's difficult to stomach. I
mean, people are so dug in totheir positions. But as, as a
teacher who works in in thecolleges, right, I can see the
(12:27):
students open to differentperspectives. And that gives me
hope for your generation, you'veheard me say that over and over
and over. But with this influxof social media, and you know,
the division already happening,right, so young, what do you
guys think is the answer? Imean, how do we bring people
back together? In this time?
Samantha (12:49):
That is a hard question. Yeah, one I definitely
don't have an answer to now. ButI think that if we move forward,
not thinking about ourselves asmuch as we currently do, because
I I definitely feel like oursociety generally is more
individualistic than a lot ofother places out there. And I am
(13:09):
free to say that because Idefinitely think about myself
and then have to step back andbe like, wait, yeah, this might
be extremely uncomfortable forme. But it's better than
everyone else.Like, God forbid,I happen to walk by someone and
I'm asymptomatic. For whateverreason, I have no idea. And I
happen to walk by somebody'sgrandmother, without a mask.
(13:30):
Like, it's just one of thosethings that you just have to be
more aware of everyone else,then you're like just putting
others over yourself. We've beentelling, you know, we've been
told that since kindergarten.
But I think it's finally time weactually started listening to
it. And it doesn't necessarilyhave to be with masks. It's
just, it's just common decency.
Nick (13:45):
It's a hard question on how we're going to bring it back
together. But hopefully, as timegoes on, people will stop
worrying about what everyoneelse is doing, and start
focusing on how they can bebetter. And you know, how their
being better can affect thosearound them.
Samantha (14:03):
And taking all the positives from what we've
learned so far, you know, likeall the things that we realized
that we have taken for granted,like take that and make that a
positive in your day.
Zoe (14:12):
And I mean, you've spoken about this before, but it's
resilience, it's how we moveforward, and how are we going to
persevere with the resiliencethat we have basically gone
through the pandemic with, Imean, really, everyone has
overcome so much in thispandemic, if they want to
acknowledge it or not. It'sthere. And I mean, it's been
tough on everyone, regardless ofwhat situation you are in. And I
(14:36):
think it's important to realizethat we all have gone through
the same thing, and we're allstill currently going through
the steps and the motions ofgetting to that normalcy or
something. That's not what weare in right now.
Kim Bolourtchi (14:50):
Absolutely. I'm glad you brought that up.
Because I've been thinking a lotabout the fact that, like I when
I was growing up, I didn't gothrough a pandemic like you just
did, and I could have evenimagined it like the thought of
it would have terrified me. Butfor me, the thing that I always
wanted to be was strong. Like, Ialways wanted to be strong, I
wanted people to think of me asstrong. And so there were times
(15:11):
where I didn't feel strong, butI acted strong so that people
would lean on me and rely on meand look at me and be like, Oh,
she's strong. That was like mygo to, you know, my badge of
honor. And I no longer believethat that is the badge of honor,
I honestly believe thatresilience is the badge of
honor. Strong means that youdon't bend you don't break,
(15:32):
right? Like, you're just likethis still thing that doesn't
ever give you just hold. But ifyou're resilient, then you're
brave enough to fall, and thenyou get back up.
Nick (15:44):
Yeah. And you just got to move forward not giving the
Fuck, I'm serious. I'm sorry.
You know, too many people, they,they're so worried about what
everyone else is doing orwhatever, what else thinks just
do you, you know, life is tooshort. And I really feel like
they're worrying too much aboutissues that will never have
anything to do with them. So
Kim Bolourtchi (16:02):
going back to the point about 1.5 million
likes on social media. Exactly.
I would say you shouldn't evenbe paying attention to that. So
I'm gonna ask you guys aquestion. Um, and I'm going to
ask you to be a little bit realhere, a little bit vulnerable.
But since we're talking aboutresilience, I would love it. And
I'm going to preface that bysaying this. One of the things
that I find most heartwarming,and also most heartbreaking is
(16:25):
that it's really hard, I think,for people your age, to admit
what's hard, because there'sthis idea that you're supposed
to have it already figured out.
Right? Am I right about that?
Yeah. Right. And so one of thethings that I feel I feel it
with my students more when I'min person with them, but but I
(16:48):
can even feel it over zoom,right? Is this idea you're,
you're 18, 19 and 20. And youhave this feeling that you have
to already know, you have to besure. And that if you don't
know, and you're not sure, andyou haven't figured it out, and
you're not handling it allreally, really well that somehow
you're going to disappointsomebody. And the truth is that
that's that's internal pressureyou're putting on yourselves and
(17:14):
and not actually, what isexpected of you at all. But yet,
so many people feel like likethat is real. And you don't
understand that everybody elseis feeling that too. And so I'm
going to ask you, in the spiritof letting people who are
listening know, because a lot ofmy students listen, and a lot of
people your age, do listen tothe show, I would love for each
(17:37):
of you, if you don't mind. Togive just one example of
something that was really hardfor you this year, that you feel
like resilience has helped youpull through. Please don't feel
pressured. You can pass if youif you want to you don't have to
share, but
Nick (17:54):
Pass. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. It was a joke, I swear.
No. So I'll go first. So rightoff the bat, something that was
really hard for me was my bestfriends that you know, I have I
had an interesting middle schoolexperience. And, you know, I
switched to Whitfield. And Imade an amazing group of friends
(18:14):
that we always had each other'sbacks. And it was a super small
school. So we did everythingtogether. And sure enough, I had
this, this feeling that, youknow, one of my friends started
talking about Mizzou. And youknow, I heard a second one
talking about Mizzou, and theneventually all of them had
applied to Mizzou. Soeventually, when I made the
decision to go to Denver, Ifound out that five of my really
(18:37):
good friends, we're all goingand rooming together at Mizzou.
And that was really hard for me,because they had already started
this, you know, Mizzou crew.
Even before I was I was able to,like, you know, get to hang out
with them. And it felt like theyhad started college already,
while we were still finishinghigh school. And yet, it was
like that idea of, you knowwhat, I'm just gonna make the
(19:02):
most of it. It wasn't fun. Butit definitely, definitely helped
me a lot, because now I'm reallyexcited to go to Denver and
explore and make a ton of newfriends. So.
Kim Bolourtchi (19:14):
That's awesome.
Thank you for sharing. That isreally hard. Transitions are
hard anyway, absolutely. Butwhen all of your friends are
going one place together, you'regoing someplace completely
different. That's definitelyrough.
Zoe (19:28):
So as someone who just finished her first year at
college, I'm thrilled to hearthat you are very excited to go
to Denver. And it's so excitingto hear. But I think the hardest
thing for me was making thedecision to either take a gap
year or go to college. And itwas during this time of I'm not
(19:50):
sure what's gonna happen. Youknow, when passed, you can look
at other people's experiencesand say, Wow, they're having the
college experience. But youknow, this year, no one is
getting unexperienced and youhave to make the decision as to
whether or not you want to, youknow, create what, what you have
and cultivate something new, andcome out of it, you know,
(20:10):
changed in different and you'renot having the same experience
or if you want to kind of staywhere you are, and remain at
home and work. And I think thehardest thing for me was to make
that decision and to persevereand go to college. And of
course, you know, I've come outwith so many lessons, and I've
grown so much as a person, butit's hard to say whether I would
(20:31):
repeat that or stay at home.
Yeah.
Kim Bolourtchi (20:35):
I mean, you graduated, like you had the
senior year that was literallythe lockdown like it was the
you know, the the drive bygraduation, I mean, the whole,
like, you literally had nothingthat was expected in your senior
year, and like the shock of itall, right. So um, yeah, I can't
(20:55):
imagine how, how hard all of itreally was, but you did it. You
did it, you did it.
Zoe (21:03):
I came out on top. And I've grown so much. And I think the
pandemic has taught me a lot.
And I really wouldn't change it.
I mean, we can't, but I reallywouldn't change it for anything.
Kim Bolourtchi (21:13):
That's awesome.
Thank you.
Samantha (21:16):
There's a lot to be honest of challenges this year.
I think one of them inparticular was I was given the
opportunity by my family to moveaway from campus. And I got to
learn how to live completelyalone. And it makes you very
(21:42):
thankful for the things thatyou're given.While you are, but
it also teaches you who you area little bit more. And it
teaches you what tools you havein your toolbox and how to apply
yourself in situations where youdidn't in the past because you
(22:05):
didn't have to. Lucky for me, Ido have the best campanion in
the world, which is the SiberianHusky Raven. She's the coolest.
So she definitely did helptremendously. But all in all,
like to be able to have gottento do what I have been able to
do this past winter, work withchildren and still be able to,
(22:28):
to enjoy the things that wedidn't really know who we're
going to have anyway, um, inaddition to doing school online,
is the biggest blessing in thein the world. But it was
incredibly difficult, I thinkmore difficult than you realize
in the moment, and then you takeyourself out of it. And you're
like, wow, I think I did that.
That's pretty monumental. So ittook a lot of strength at times
(22:53):
to to pull yourself out of ahole and be like you, you're
fine. And everyone else is fine.
But I did it, and I'm stoked. SoI'm just very thankful at the
end of the day. So
Nick (23:10):
yeah, no, I really do think that we should change
Raven's name though, because dadneeds to stop answering
Samantha (23:21):
So my dog's name is Raven. She's a black Husky,
she's gorgeous. But her I'm anickname type of gal. And her
nickname is Ray, like Ray Ray.
And she'll be in the kitchen andI'll be like "Ray, get out of
the way" or "move." And my dadwhose name is Ray will turn
around and be like, what? Everysingle time?
Kim Bolourtchi (23:43):
Yeah, it's an issue.
I have to tell you from from myperspective, you are all
incredible. Just incredible. AndI am so proud of all of you. And
I'm so proud of all the studentsthat I had this year and all the
(24:05):
students I didn't have thisyear. I'm just so proud of your
resilience, and I celebrate you.
Because, you know, knowing whatyou've been through and knowing
what you worked through andknowing what you fell down and
got back up through. It's, youknow, when people say it's going
to help you through the rest ofyour life. It's not a cliche. We
(24:26):
spend so much time as parentstrying to protect you from
things that will hurt you thatthere are a lot of times that
you don't have the chance to seewhat you're made of. And then
comes a pandemic, where parentscannot adjust the variables
enough to protect you becausethe rules are changed for all of
us. And in so many ways. you'reforced to fend for yourselves,
(24:49):
you know and to negotiate a newnormal and even though it's
really really hard, you realizewhat you're capable of doing and
watching You all do that? It'sit's a real privilege and honor,
honestly. So,
Nick (25:05):
thank you so much. And I, you know, I really appreciate
that. And I want to say onething, one last thing, this the
last night I've, I reallyoccupied too much this podcast,
but I just want everyonelistening and listening, just
putting this out there to, youknow, enjoy the little things
and to celebrate your smallvictories, you know whether that
(25:27):
be going and you know, taking awalk after not walking or going
out and talking to a friendthat, you know, maybe you really
didn't want to reach out to butyou did or drink water? You
seriously? Yes, you're mysister. Definitely drinking
enough water is one of them. Butyou know, just celebrating the
small things because everyonehas gone through this time of
(25:49):
awkwardness. And a lot of peoplehave lost a lot. And there have
been times where people thinkthat they have nothing, but you
have to remember what you dohave and what you've
accomplished. So,
Kim Bolourtchi (26:01):
absolutely. So celebrate the small things. Yes.
And tomorrow we celebrate you.
Yeah, graduating from highschool.
Nick (26:09):
Somehow I made it.
Kim Bolourtchi (26:11):
Yeah, there was never really any doubt.
Zoe (26:13):
And as a student, I really want to say thank you to my
professors, and to you as ateacher and to any teachers out
there. Oh my gosh, yes.
Honestly, I feel like it's beenthem and my parents and anyone
who is backing me up, that isstill there to say you got this.
Samantha (26:29):
Definitely second thought for sure. And thank you
so much for having this. Thesurprises definitely worth it
and fun and enjoyable. And Ilistened to this podcast every
time you release something, soI'm going to be excited to hear
my own voice. Maybe not. Butthis has been wonderful. And
(26:49):
thank you No, yeah, seriously.
Thank you.
Kim Bolourtchi (26:51):
Thank you. It wasn't too torturous was it?
Nick (26:53):
No, no, no. Can we go?
Kim Bolourtchi (26:56):
Yes. Okay, you can go.
Nick (26:58):
I'm kidding.
Kim Bolourtchi (26:59):
I hope you enjoyed my conversation with
Sam, Zoe and Nick, as much as Ienjoyed sitting down with the
three of them. I'm dedicatingthis episode to all of the
students who are graduating thisspring, to all of the teachers
who thought through technologyand changes in curriculum and
all of the things thatchallenged us this year. And to
(27:21):
all of the students who showedup even when they didn't want to
get out of bed and we're findingit hard to be motivated. We did
it we made it through this year.
This is tangible proof that youcan do hard things and I am so
excited to celebrate you. And asI'm signing off this podcast on
this random day in May literallythere are fireworks going off
outside, so there's that too. Hve a great summer and I'll see
(27:44):
ou in the fall. This is Kimolourtchi and you've been listen
ng to Boldly Sta
This is Kim Bolourtchi and you're listening
to Boldly Stated. So I'msupposed to be on a break right
now. But an opportunitypresented itself that I simply
cannot pass up. I have with metoday, Samantha, Zoe and Nick,
who are in three differentplaces in their educational
path. And today, I have a chanceto ask them directly what is
(00:23):
going on in their world? I'lltell you that they're looking at
me right now, really a littlebit on edge is their chairs
because they don't know what I'mabout to ask them. And that's
the way it goes here. Right. Inever tell anyone what's about
to happen. So are you guys alittle nervous?
Nick (00:39):
Yeah, definitely a little bit. Yeah. Knowing knowing you I
know, there's definitelysomething in store. So I'm for
sure. waiting.
Kim Bolourtchi (00:46):
Okay, awesome.
So one of the things I am reallycurious about and, you know,
this is Boldly Stated, sothere's no holding back, and you
don't need to worry abouthurting my feelings. I want you
to be really honest with youranswers. And as we're getting to
this place, where this year thatfeels like 100 years is about to
(01:06):
end. And I know this year hasbeen really, really tough. So
just really quickly, I wouldlove to hear from each of you.
What do you think you are takingout of this as you move forward?
You want to start Sam? Yeah,absolutely.
Samantha (01:21):
I'm taking away from an educational standpoint, I
think it's taught me a level ofpatience, I didn't realize that
I would have to have, especiallywith the trickiness of online
learning. All in all, it justtaught me not to take anything
for granted.
Kim Bolourtchi (01:39):
so Zoe How about you, what do you take out of
this year of pandemic health?
Zoe (01:45):
I think the biggest thing for me is the appreciation of
those who learned online priorto the pandemic, because it
makes me have a respect forthose who can do this and
persevere in a way that I havefound that I kind of tend to
drop off with, with onlinelearning.
Kim Bolourtchi (02:02):
Because it's rough.
Zoe (02:03):
Yeah, absolutely.
Kim Bolourtchi (02:05):
Nick?
Nick (02:06):
Yeah, definitely. I couldn't agree more with Sam,
about the patience. Because, youknow, I'm definitely the type of
person that really likes to behands on and, and learning with
my friends and learning with myteachers and really interacting
with what I'm doing, becausethat's how I feel like I can
really enrich myself and whatI'm learning. So this year being
virtual for a good chunk of it,you know, it really was
(02:27):
upsetting. So it really didteach me how to reach out and
expand my horizon with myfriends and my activities to
keep myself busy. So I'mdefinitely looking forward to,
to things going back to normalfor sure, though,
Kim Bolourtchi (02:39):
That's awesome.
And do you think they're reallygoing to go back to normal?
Nick (02:43):
You know, personally, I feel like if people really just
pretend that this is completelyover, and that vaccine solved
it, I feel like it, it willnever go back to normal. Because
honestly, the the fact thatpeople are already taking their
masks off in public is somethingthat I don't feel like we're
completely ready for. So youguys want to add to that at all?
(03:06):
What do you think?
Zoe (03:06):
I think normal is a tricky word to use in this situation, I
think normal will never be ouroriginal normal prior to the
pandemic. And I think that, youknow, there's a new courtesy,
with masks moving forward, Ithink there's a new courtesy
with kind of how we interactwith humans and you know,
personal space and the courtesyaround being sick, regardless of
(03:28):
being COVID, or whatever it be.
Kim Bolourtchi (03:32):
Yeah. Are you are you freaked out by this idea
of it not going back to normal?
Samantha (03:37):
Not necessarily.
Because every chance to dip yourfoot in something different,
like shows you somethingdifferent and gives you a
different perspective. However,I think going into it with the
idea of the things that we hadbefore is just going to set
yourself up to be behind I thinkhaving an open mind and knowing
(03:58):
that things are going to have tochange around a little bit. And
there are going to be somethings that you're going to stop
and say, Well, this wasn't likethis before. And that's
something that you're going tohave to deal with. It's
something we're going to have towork around. Nick do you want to
add to that?
Nick (04:14):
Yeah, Yeah. So I really think that like everything you
have to adapt to survive withthe changing times, just like we
always have, just like, youknow, with new phones, you have
to learn how they work with newcars. You have to adapt to all
the buttons and teach yourparents how to use them. And I'm
sorry, Mom, you said to behonest, so there goes my
Saturday. Nice. Oh, no, but Ireally feel like if people don't
(04:37):
adapt to the change, they'll beleft behind.
Kim Bolourtchi (04:40):
So let me ask you this. Do you think that your
generation or my generation isgoing to come out ahead on the
other side of the pandemic?
Nick (04:51):
I'm sorry, to my generation, but I don't think we
have a chance of coming outahead. I think that honestly,
the way that our generation isSeeing the pandemic as kind of a
light topic and honestly, movingforward and how a lot of you
know, some people that I knowand that I guarantee you guys
know that don't really take itseriously. I feel like as time
(05:13):
goes on, the more severe topicsand matters that our generation
has to handle, will not be, wewon't be able to handle them.
Samantha (05:21):
I would like to counter Okay, I may please
known, the reason I do is yes, Ihave faith in my generation.
However, I'm not going to speakfor my entire generation. I am
going to say though, that Istill believe that our
generation is influenced in partby our parents, and by the older
generations above us that havehad more years on our life have
(05:42):
seen more things, and the thingsthat they're seeing, despite us
getting older and becomingadults of our own. We're still
looking and we're stilllistening, and we can still
hear. And I think that with thenewfound awareness that our
generation has about allcontroversial topics,
personally, I think if we getour shit together, because it's
(06:03):
boldly stated, we might actuallybe able to come out as equals
ever.
Kim Bolourtchi (06:10):
What do you think Zoe?
Zoe (06:11):
I think there's actually going to rise on social media, I
mean, with tik tok andInstagram, and there's been a
large influence of kind oforiginality and being yourself.
And I don't know if it's becauseof the pandemic. And because
people are given more time toreally like, sit with their
thoughts and be by themselves.
But I believe that movingforward, there is a lot more of
(06:33):
like, some found independencewithin our generation for sure.
And found like awareness of whopeople are, and who they really
want to become. I love that. Iagree.
Nick (06:48):
I want to pose a question to to honestly, everyone,
because I would love to hearyour guys's opinions on this.
And anyone who's listening. Youknow, there's there's always
that debate, whether it's onFacebook, whether it's in
person, whether it's over lunch,whether it's your generation, or
our generation, you know, yourgeneration, it's the news, it's,
you know, whether it's Fox, CNN,it's the blue in the red, right?
(07:10):
It's the post on Facebook, aboutmasks, will you see, for our
generation, it's the tick tock,the Snapchat, the blue in the
red, it's almost like a predivider to what you guys are
already experiencing. And soit's like, even though we're to
now and and we're not listeningto the fox news, or the CNN, tik
tok has been that platform thatI feel like is already starting
(07:34):
to divide teens and younger kidswho have no idea what they're
even fighting over, you know,reading some of the comments.
And in these social mediaplatforms, it's like, you know,
people think that their commentsand who they're siding with
doesn't matter. And so I wouldlove to think that if you guys
agree with me, or you disagreewith me, I would love to hear
that. I agree. wholeheartedly. Ithink you just post that.
Samantha (07:55):
Absolutely correct. I think that there has been so
much influence without evenrealizing it. Because we're so
in touch with social media, wekind of always have technology
has really lifted and taken offas we've grown up. And we've all
I, you know, we've all hadparents who've let us indulge in
this technology. And with thisnew platform, I see comments,
(08:18):
one that confused me. And two, Ifeel exactly that they kind of
pull away from thatindividuality, because they see
1.1 million likes on a post. Andthey could comment something
truthful, that completelydisagrees. But they know that
the counter argument is going tobe a flood of comments that are
(08:39):
not nice, and won't go tosupport who they are. And that
sucks. Absolutely.
Zoe (08:46):
So 100% agree that there is Yeah, the division of where
we're getting our reliablesources from? And what are our
current generation and youngergenerations are listening to and
how they're moving forward withdivision of politics, division
of water would be really,
Kim Bolourtchi (09:08):
how much of it do you think is coming from
parents?
Nick (09:12):
You know, I, I think a lot of it is, and here's why, you
know, we've always had theprivilege and the awesome
pleasure of eating dinner withyou and dad. And you know, our
guests that come over and wehave dinner and we don't talk
about, you know, our days, likeregular people, I must say, you
know, we really dive into thosetopics that a lot of people
(09:33):
don't want to touch because it'sawkward or it's uncomfortable.
But you know, you have alwaysmade that comfortable in that
uncomfortable space even morecomfortable. So anything that we
have felt that, you know, we maywant to discuss, we talk about
and I feel like today, parentsare a lot more disconnected with
their kids, but I really do feellike it. It stems from the
parents. Do you think that
Kim Bolourtchi (09:54):
kids don't have independent thoughts, or do you
think that they're just afraidto express them?
Samantha (10:01):
I think kids definitely have independent
thought. And I think they arewilling to express them. I think
it's the social backlash thatthey're worried about more than
anything. And that comes fromtheir parents as well. It's not
always the dinner tableconversations. It's not always
the sit down, and let's spill itall out. It's the things we hear
under the adult breath. And thethings we hear in passing the
(10:23):
looks that we see. It's not justverbal, it's body language.
It's, it encompasses like awhole other area of an analysis,
basically, of our parents, andjust adults in our lives, they
can be teachers as well, like itdoesn't necessarily have to be
in the family to have more of animpact than I think we think. So
(10:44):
I think, yes, to both and no toboth. Yeah.
Nick (10:47):
I just wanted to say, you know, how you said something
about teachers, right, being,you know, those people that we
we take, you know, ideas fromand we really look up to, well,
I've really noticed that, morethan ever. The people that have
the most likes that have themost influence, that are
sponsored by all the brands,those are the ones we tend to
listen to, regardless of wherethey're getting their
(11:08):
information. For instance, youcould have someone who has 100
Million Likes, say, you know,Hey, guys, this shirt is no
longer cool. And I guarantee youso many people wouldn't even
think as to why the shirt wascool, or not cool. They would
just listen.
Kim Bolourtchi (11:21):
Yeah, I mean, to your point, um, when Elon Musk
was on Saturday Night Live, hemade a joke about Bitcoin, a
joke, and it crashed the nextday. So I mean, if that doesn't
make your point, I can't thinkof another example. Yeah. Of how
influenced by influencers weare.
Nick (11:41):
And you know, I love how you brought that up. Because
recently, I was watching a, youknow, a video on YouTube. And a
YouTuber who has absolutelynever talked about
cryptocurrency was talking aboutit more than he ever had. And it
was Bitcoin, he was talkingabout how he had to buy it, he
was, you know, constantlywatching it. And so it's amazing
how someone like Elon Musk inthat position can simply make a
(12:02):
joke and change someone's entireday. So,
Kim Bolourtchi (12:06):
yeah, you know, I sort of had this opinion that
my generation, I mean, the thesplit that you see, you know, on
social media and on Facebook,it's difficult to stomach. I
mean, people are so dug in totheir positions. But as, as a
teacher who works in in thecolleges, right, I can see the
(12:27):
students open to differentperspectives. And that gives me
hope for your generation, you'veheard me say that over and over
and over. But with this influxof social media, and you know,
the division already happening,right, so young, what do you
guys think is the answer? Imean, how do we bring people
back together? In this time?
Samantha (12:49):
That is a hard question. Yeah, one I definitely
don't have an answer to now. ButI think that if we move forward,
not thinking about ourselves asmuch as we currently do, because
I I definitely feel like oursociety generally is more
individualistic than a lot ofother places out there. And I am
(13:09):
free to say that because Idefinitely think about myself
and then have to step back andbe like, wait, yeah, this might
be extremely uncomfortable forme. But it's better than
everyone else.Like, God forbid,I happen to walk by someone and
I'm asymptomatic. For whateverreason, I have no idea. And I
happen to walk by somebody'sgrandmother, without a mask.
(13:30):
Like, it's just one of thosethings that you just have to be
more aware of everyone else,then you're like just putting
others over yourself. We've beentelling, you know, we've been
told that since kindergarten.
But I think it's finally time weactually started listening to
it. And it doesn't necessarilyhave to be with masks. It's
just, it's just common decency.
Nick (13:45):
It's a hard question on how we're going to bring it back
together. But hopefully, as timegoes on, people will stop
worrying about what everyoneelse is doing, and start
focusing on how they can bebetter. And you know, how their
being better can affect thosearound them.
Samantha (14:03):
And taking all the positives from what we've
learned so far, you know, likeall the things that we realized
that we have taken for granted,like take that and make that a
positive in your day.
Zoe (14:12):
And I mean, you've spoken about this before, but it's
resilience, it's how we moveforward, and how are we going to
persevere with the resiliencethat we have basically gone
through the pandemic with, Imean, really, everyone has
overcome so much in thispandemic, if they want to
acknowledge it or not. It'sthere. And I mean, it's been
tough on everyone, regardless ofwhat situation you are in. And I
(14:36):
think it's important to realizethat we all have gone through
the same thing, and we're allstill currently going through
the steps and the motions ofgetting to that normalcy or
something. That's not what weare in right now.
Kim Bolourtchi (14:50):
Absolutely. I'm glad you brought that up.
Because I've been thinking a lotabout the fact that, like I when
I was growing up, I didn't gothrough a pandemic like you just
did, and I could have evenimagined it like the thought of
it would have terrified me. Butfor me, the thing that I always
wanted to be was strong. Like, Ialways wanted to be strong, I
wanted people to think of me asstrong. And so there were times
(15:11):
where I didn't feel strong, butI acted strong so that people
would lean on me and rely on meand look at me and be like, Oh,
she's strong. That was like mygo to, you know, my badge of
honor. And I no longer believethat that is the badge of honor,
I honestly believe thatresilience is the badge of
honor. Strong means that youdon't bend you don't break,
(15:32):
right? Like, you're just likethis still thing that doesn't
ever give you just hold. But ifyou're resilient, then you're
brave enough to fall, and thenyou get back up.
Nick (15:44):
Yeah. And you just got to move forward not giving the
Fuck, I'm serious. I'm sorry.
You know, too many people, they,they're so worried about what
everyone else is doing orwhatever, what else thinks just
do you, you know, life is tooshort. And I really feel like
they're worrying too much aboutissues that will never have
anything to do with them. So
Kim Bolourtchi (16:02):
going back to the point about 1.5 million
likes on social media. Exactly.
I would say you shouldn't evenbe paying attention to that. So
I'm gonna ask you guys aquestion. Um, and I'm going to
ask you to be a little bit realhere, a little bit vulnerable.
But since we're talking aboutresilience, I would love it. And
I'm going to preface that bysaying this. One of the things
that I find most heartwarming,and also most heartbreaking is
(16:25):
that it's really hard, I think,for people your age, to admit
what's hard, because there'sthis idea that you're supposed
to have it already figured out.
Right? Am I right about that?
Yeah. Right. And so one of thethings that I feel I feel it
with my students more when I'min person with them, but but I
(16:48):
can even feel it over zoom,right? Is this idea you're,
you're 18, 19 and 20. And youhave this feeling that you have
to already know, you have to besure. And that if you don't
know, and you're not sure, andyou haven't figured it out, and
you're not handling it allreally, really well that somehow
you're going to disappointsomebody. And the truth is that
that's that's internal pressureyou're putting on yourselves and
(17:14):
and not actually, what isexpected of you at all. But yet,
so many people feel like likethat is real. And you don't
understand that everybody elseis feeling that too. And so I'm
going to ask you, in the spiritof letting people who are
listening know, because a lot ofmy students listen, and a lot of
people your age, do listen tothe show, I would love for each
(17:37):
of you, if you don't mind. Togive just one example of
something that was really hardfor you this year, that you feel
like resilience has helped youpull through. Please don't feel
pressured. You can pass if youif you want to you don't have to
share, but
Nick (17:54):
Pass. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. It was a joke, I swear.
No. So I'll go first. So rightoff the bat, something that was
really hard for me was my bestfriends that you know, I have I
had an interesting middle schoolexperience. And, you know, I
switched to Whitfield. And Imade an amazing group of friends
(18:14):
that we always had each other'sbacks. And it was a super small
school. So we did everythingtogether. And sure enough, I had
this, this feeling that, youknow, one of my friends started
talking about Mizzou. And youknow, I heard a second one
talking about Mizzou, and theneventually all of them had
applied to Mizzou. Soeventually, when I made the
decision to go to Denver, Ifound out that five of my really
(18:37):
good friends, we're all goingand rooming together at Mizzou.
And that was really hard for me,because they had already started
this, you know, Mizzou crew.
Even before I was I was able to,like, you know, get to hang out
with them. And it felt like theyhad started college already,
while we were still finishinghigh school. And yet, it was
like that idea of, you knowwhat, I'm just gonna make the
(19:02):
most of it. It wasn't fun. Butit definitely, definitely helped
me a lot, because now I'm reallyexcited to go to Denver and
explore and make a ton of newfriends. So.
Kim Bolourtchi (19:14):
That's awesome.
Thank you for sharing. That isreally hard. Transitions are
hard anyway, absolutely. Butwhen all of your friends are
going one place together, you'regoing someplace completely
different. That's definitelyrough.
Zoe (19:28):
So as someone who just finished her first year at
college, I'm thrilled to hearthat you are very excited to go
to Denver. And it's so excitingto hear. But I think the hardest
thing for me was making thedecision to either take a gap
year or go to college. And itwas during this time of I'm not
(19:50):
sure what's gonna happen. Youknow, when passed, you can look
at other people's experiencesand say, Wow, they're having the
college experience. But youknow, this year, no one is
getting unexperienced and youhave to make the decision as to
whether or not you want to, youknow, create what, what you have
and cultivate something new, andcome out of it, you know,
(20:10):
changed in different and you'renot having the same experience
or if you want to kind of staywhere you are, and remain at
home and work. And I think thehardest thing for me was to make
that decision and to persevereand go to college. And of
course, you know, I've come outwith so many lessons, and I've
grown so much as a person, butit's hard to say whether I would
(20:31):
repeat that or stay at home.
Yeah.
Kim Bolourtchi (20:35):
I mean, you graduated, like you had the
senior year that was literallythe lockdown like it was the
you know, the the drive bygraduation, I mean, the whole,
like, you literally had nothingthat was expected in your senior
year, and like the shock of itall, right. So um, yeah, I can't
(20:55):
imagine how, how hard all of itreally was, but you did it. You
did it, you did it.
Zoe (21:03):
I came out on top. And I've grown so much. And I think the
pandemic has taught me a lot.
And I really wouldn't change it.
I mean, we can't, but I reallywouldn't change it for anything.
Kim Bolourtchi (21:13):
That's awesome.
Thank you.
Samantha (21:16):
There's a lot to be honest of challenges this year.
I think one of them inparticular was I was given the
opportunity by my family to moveaway from campus. And I got to
learn how to live completelyalone. And it makes you very
(21:42):
thankful for the things thatyou're given.While you are, but
it also teaches you who you area little bit more. And it
teaches you what tools you havein your toolbox and how to apply
yourself in situations where youdidn't in the past because you
(22:05):
didn't have to. Lucky for me, Ido have the best campanion in
the world, which is the SiberianHusky Raven. She's the coolest.
So she definitely did helptremendously. But all in all,
like to be able to have gottento do what I have been able to
do this past winter, work withchildren and still be able to,
(22:28):
to enjoy the things that wedidn't really know who we're
going to have anyway, um, inaddition to doing school online,
is the biggest blessing in thein the world. But it was
incredibly difficult, I thinkmore difficult than you realize
in the moment, and then you takeyourself out of it. And you're
like, wow, I think I did that.
That's pretty monumental. So ittook a lot of strength at times
(22:53):
to to pull yourself out of ahole and be like you, you're
fine. And everyone else is fine.
But I did it, and I'm stoked. SoI'm just very thankful at the
end of the day. So
Nick (23:10):
yeah, no, I really do think that we should change
Raven's name though, because dadneeds to stop answering
Samantha (23:21):
So my dog's name is Raven. She's a black Husky,
she's gorgeous. But her I'm anickname type of gal. And her
nickname is Ray, like Ray Ray.
And she'll be in the kitchen andI'll be like "Ray, get out of
the way" or "move." And my dadwhose name is Ray will turn
around and be like, what? Everysingle time?
Kim Bolourtchi (23:43):
Yeah, it's an issue.
I have to tell you from from myperspective, you are all
incredible. Just incredible. AndI am so proud of all of you. And
I'm so proud of all the studentsthat I had this year and all the
(24:05):
students I didn't have thisyear. I'm just so proud of your
resilience, and I celebrate you.
Because, you know, knowing whatyou've been through and knowing
what you worked through andknowing what you fell down and
got back up through. It's, youknow, when people say it's going
to help you through the rest ofyour life. It's not a cliche. We
(24:26):
spend so much time as parentstrying to protect you from
things that will hurt you thatthere are a lot of times that
you don't have the chance to seewhat you're made of. And then
comes a pandemic, where parentscannot adjust the variables
enough to protect you becausethe rules are changed for all of
us. And in so many ways. you'reforced to fend for yourselves,
(24:49):
you know and to negotiate a newnormal and even though it's
really really hard, you realizewhat you're capable of doing and
watching You all do that? It'sit's a real privilege and honor,
honestly. So,
Nick (25:05):
thank you so much. And I, you know, I really appreciate
that. And I want to say onething, one last thing, this the
last night I've, I reallyoccupied too much this podcast,
but I just want everyonelistening and listening, just
putting this out there to, youknow, enjoy the little things
and to celebrate your smallvictories, you know whether that
(25:27):
be going and you know, taking awalk after not walking or going
out and talking to a friendthat, you know, maybe you really
didn't want to reach out to butyou did or drink water? You
seriously? Yes, you're mysister. Definitely drinking
enough water is one of them. Butyou know, just celebrating the
small things because everyonehas gone through this time of
(25:49):
awkwardness. And a lot of peoplehave lost a lot. And there have
been times where people thinkthat they have nothing, but you
have to remember what you dohave and what you've
accomplished. So,
Kim Bolourtchi (26:01):
absolutely. So celebrate the small things. Yes.
And tomorrow we celebrate you.
Yeah, graduating from highschool.
Nick (26:09):
Somehow I made it.
Kim Bolourtchi (26:11):
Yeah, there was never really any doubt.
Zoe (26:13):
And as a student, I really want to say thank you to my
professors, and to you as ateacher and to any teachers out
there. Oh my gosh, yes.
Honestly, I feel like it's beenthem and my parents and anyone
who is backing me up, that isstill there to say you got this.
Samantha (26:29):
Definitely second thought for sure. And thank you
so much for having this. Thesurprises definitely worth it
and fun and enjoyable. And Ilistened to this podcast every
time you release something, soI'm going to be excited to hear
my own voice. Maybe not. Butthis has been wonderful. And
(26:49):
thank you No, yeah, seriously.
Thank you.
Kim Bolourtchi (26:51):
Thank you. It wasn't too torturous was it?
Nick (26:53):
No, no, no. Can we go?
Kim Bolourtchi (26:56):
Yes. Okay, you can go.
Nick (26:58):
I'm kidding.
Kim Bolourtchi (26:59):
I hope you enjoyed my conversation with
Sam, Zoe and Nick, as much as Ienjoyed sitting down with the
three of them. I'm dedicatingthis episode to all of the
students who are graduating thisspring, to all of the teachers
who thought through technologyand changes in curriculum and
all of the things thatchallenged us this year. And to
(27:21):
all of the students who showedup even when they didn't want to
get out of bed and we're findingit hard to be motivated. We did
it we made it through this year.
This is tangible proof that youcan do hard things and I am so
excited to celebrate you. And asI'm signing off this podcast on
this random day in May literallythere are fireworks going off
outside, so there's that too. Hve a great summer and I'll see
(27:44):
ou in the fall. This is Kimolourtchi and you've been listen
ng to Boldly Sta
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