Younger Self Café v6: TikTok Era, Told in Reels

The Younger Self Café has gone digital, reimagined as a series of TikTok reels. The characters—representing the TikTok generation of creators and thinkers—speak in short, punchy videos. Each reel is part of a thread, stitched together to tell a larger story about youth, identity, and the power of fleeting moments. The “guests” of this episode include Amanda Gorman (Instagram), Ocean Vuong (Instagram), Alok Vaid-Menon (Instagram), and a fictional Gen Z TikToker named Lila (@PoetryInMotion), each sharing their thoughts in bite-sized, viral-ready clips.

Reel 1: Amanda Gorman—”Youth Is a Lighthouse”

Video opens with Amanda Gorman (@TheInauguralPoet) standing in a golden glow, her voice commanding yet intimate.

🎥: “Youth isn’t a phase; it’s a lighthouse.
It shines through fog, pointing the way out.
We’re told it’s fleeting, but I know this truth:
The world’s strongest force is the voice of youth.”

Text overlay: “Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate. ✨ #PoetryTok #YouthRevolution”