and began to examine this individual closely. He couldn’t figure out the gender of the person on the video, but frankly, he didn’t find it relevant. What captivated him was their bright energy and the relaxing manner of speaking, which felt like a breath of fresh air amidst a never-ending stream of events. “Be in control of your attention, for no one can disrupt or trigger you as long as you remain focused,” said the wise stranger, who wore clothing reminiscent of a Buddhist kasaya.
At the end of the video, there was a breathing exercise that felt long overdue for someone like Jesse, who usually fell into the habit of quickly scrolling through video prompts without taking a break. As he inhaled and exhaled slowly in sync with the person on the screen, he felt a slight release of tension in his chest and back. By the end of the 30-second video, the individual somehow seemed closer to him. When the video finished, Jesse put his phone back on the table. It felt like one of those moments of sudden realization. He was no longer bothered by messages, emails, or anything else that demanded his energy. For the first time in a long while, Jesse felt in control and at peace with himself, recognizing the power of slowing things down.
This story was submitted as part of the Oxford Pilot Phase of the Gen Z Role Models Project.
“and began to examine this individual closely” (S115) © 2026 by The Gen Z Role Models Project is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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