TV Raised Me

Dear Diary,

It’s June 20, 2025, and I’ve been spending my summer mornings teaching multimedia to third and fourth graders. Watching them light up behind the camera, play with storytelling, and bring their ideas to life—it’s been beautiful. But it’s also stirred something in me.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the kid I used to be.

I grew up on Recess, Bug Juice, Gullah Gullah Island, My Brother and Me, and Legends of the Hidden Temple—shows that taught me how to laugh, reflect, and imagine. I had to be in front of the TV right when they aired, no rewinds, no streams—just you, the show, and whoever else was lucky enough to catch it that day. These shows shaped friendships, gave us common language, helped us feel seen. They weren’t just background noise. They were part of our emotional literacy.

I remember watching Are You Afraid of the Dark? with my heart racing, knowing full well I’d end up sleeping on my parents' floor—but I didn’t care. I wanted the story. I always wanted the story.

Now I see my students growing up in a world of endless content, infinite scrolling, and algorithm-driven distractions. They’re creative, yes—but they don’t always get the magic of waiting. Of being part of something together. Of bonding over a single episode you had to catch live.

So I’ve been asking myself:What did I need back then that I can give them now?

I needed spaces to imagine. To feel represented. To be silly and serious all at once.I needed reminders that adventure could live in a lunchbox, a classroom, or a weird puppet named Skeeter.I needed people who saw me. So that’s what I’m trying to be now.

Even as a kid, I could read a room. Whether it was recess, a pew, or a birthday party—I felt the vibes, caught the shift, navigated the noise. That emotional intelligence still guides me today. And my love for storytelling? Still here. Fierce as ever.

So here I am, full circle. Bridging the gap between what was and what’s possible.Helping my students build something real—with cameras, yes, but also with courage, humor, and heart.

Love,

The girl who was raised by Saturday morning TV and still believes in its magic.