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When I walked into Mrs. Lynch's Media Class at Niagara High School, I had a list of questions prepared. I wanted to know how the school year was going, what students were enjoying and what had surprised them so far.
I got those answers -- and quite a bit more.
When I asked if anything had been harder than expected, Jaelyn Kleikamp, a 10th grader, said the academic side of high school was becoming more serious.
When I asked what they looked forward to most, however, the answer was much lighter.
"Sports!"
Andrianna Sanders, a 10th grader, participates in volleyball, basketball and softball, and she wasn't alone in looking forward to being back on the court or field.
Then I asked what had surprised them most.
The new no-food-or-drink rule quickly became the topic of conversation. No snacks in lockers or classrooms and nothing to drink except water. Food and drinks are allowed in the cafeteria and commons. Clearly, this new rule has made an impression.
Four weeks into the school year, most of the students said they had settled into their routines. Then again, this isn't exactly a normal week.
It's Homecoming.
The halls are decorated. Students and teachers are dressing up. And suddenly, my carefully prepared questions went out the window.
We started talking about Homecoming traditions -- toilet-papering the town, freshman pranks and the bonfire, where coaches are wrapped in toilet paper and students vote on which class did the best job.
These are the kinds of traditions that become stories students remember long after they graduate.
It reminded me of how quickly those years pass. I couldn't help but think about my own son being "duct-taped" to a tree as a freshman.
Those are the moments that seem like a big deal at the time -- and become memories you laugh about years later.
We talked about what makes students enjoy being at school.
Tymarain Hannah, an 11th grader, said she enjoys her funny classmates. Carly Sanicki, a 10th grader, and several others talked about their teachers, describing them as helpful, understanding and positive influences who guide them through their school years.
The teachers here are incredibly devoted. They work outside of school hours, planning lessons and getting their classrooms just right so their students feel welcomed.
Sports and activities are another big part of that experience.
Jaxon Courts, a 10th grader, said that even when he is having a bad day at school, he has something to look forward to after school -- practices, games and spending time with his teammates. He participates in cross country, basketball and track.
Ava McMahon, an 11th grader, talked about her love of forensics speech competitions. Getting on a bus and traveling to Madison, Wisconsin's state capital, with all of your teammates is certainly a memorable experience.
We even talked about finding time for family when school, sports and activities fill the calendar. I was impressed when several students said their families still make time to sit down together at the kitchen table for dinner.
As a mom, I know that isn't always easy. There were plenty of nights when my own kids ate gas-station food on the bus ride home from a late away game.
We also talked about what it means to see their school, classmates and activities featured in The Daily News.
For the students, it means seeing their accomplishments recognized and shared with the community. Someone took the time to tell their story and share what they are doing with others.
Their families notice, too. Several students said their parents save the newspaper clippings and even share those stories on social media. It made me think about how those little pieces of news can become much more than a story on a page.
Years from now, that clipping may be something they pull out of a drawer and remember exactly where they were, who they were with and what they were doing.
In that moment, I was reminded that sometimes we’re not just reporting what happened. We're helping preserve a piece of someone's life.
Then Linda Davis, a 12th grader, said something that stuck with me:
"Don't blink, it will all be gone in a second."
She's right.
From where I sit, these students aren't just names in a sports story or faces in a yearbook. They're young people creating memories with their friends, teammates, teachers and families.
And sometimes, our job at The Daily News is to make sure those memories have a place to live long after the moment has passed.