Taryn Murphy, High School Junior

Taryn Murphy is a high school junior with a lot of thoughts and a lot to say. That’s why she’s involved in debate, among other things, and also why she recently gave a Ted Talk about the misconceptions surrounding Gen Z. 

Listen to this episode to hear an interview with Taryn. She discusses what things have helped her to succeed during the more difficult periods in her life, what got her interested in debate and what kinds of speaking she normally does, and what her feelings are about Gen Z and the misconceptions the older generations have about her generation.

Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:

• What grade Taryn is in and what’s been happening with her recently
• The kinds of activities Taryn is involved in
• Whether or not school comes easily to Taryn
• What Taryn has found helped her succeed during more difficult periods
• What preparing for a debate event is like and how that works
• The different types of speaking that Taryn does
• The moves that Taryn experienced
• The misconceptions Taryn feels older people have about Gen Z
• The pressures of Gen Z
• The humor of Gen Z
• The age range of Gen Z
• Whether increased access to information makes Gen Z more interested in making change
• The prepping and planning for Ted Talks
• What Taryn would advise for people who get nervous about speaking in front of others
• The importance of finding people who share your interests
• How Taryn thinks about fear
• What academic and parental pressure feels like for Taryn’s generation
• Things Taryn’s parents have done that make her feel supported
• How Taryn deals with social pressure
• What advice Taryn would give to a younger version of herself

Resources: 

The Stereotypes of Gen Z – Taryn Murphy