
Ep. 8: Finding Strengths & Emojis
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One of the most difficult aspects of personal development is not only facing challenges but also finding strengths.
And if it’s hard as an adult, for many teenagers it can feel impossible. Chris and Karlie discuss ways to help teenagers discover strengths and pursue them. And if you’ve ever been confused about how teens use emojis these days, lean into this episode! We’ll tell you which emojis show your age and which ones you might want to avoid.
Teen Life Summit sessions are no longer available.
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- Wikipedia: Wizard of Oz
- thenationalnews.com: What do emojis mean how millennials and Gen-Z use them very differently
- CNN.com: Sorry, millenials. The crying laughing emoji isn’t cool anymore.
- bark.us: 2021 Emoji Slang: A Guide for Parents
- smartsocial.com: Teen Slang, Emojis and Hashtags Parents Need to Know
- Podcast Music: Luke Cabrera
Popular Emojis for Teens:
- 🔥 (lit)
- 🙄 (duh)
- ?️??️ (it is what it is – similar to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
- ☠️ (dead, dying from laughing)
- 😭 (“crying loudly” – laughing, crying, drama)
- 🙏 (thank you, or to make a request)
- ? (thumbs up)
Have a question?
If you have a question about something you heard or just want to give us some feedback, please leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

Chris Robey
Former CEO

Karlie Duke
Communications Director
Chris Robey | Former CEO
Chris has spent most of his career empowering teenagers from all backgrounds. As the former leader of Teen Life, he is passionate about helping students make good choices while also giving adults the tools they need to communicate more effectively with teens. Chris is a graduate of Midwestern State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Family Life Education from Lubbock Christian University.
Karlie Duke | Director of Communications
Karlie has always had a heart for teenagers. Through her role at Teen Life, she loves to showcase the amazing stories coming out of Support Groups, but she is especially passionate about helping adults and teenagers find connection. Karlie has a BS in Communications with a minor in Family Studies from Abilene Christian University.