How do you think your participation changed the course of your high school years?
I don't think that my participation in this changed me during my high school years. I think that my high school years are what has changed me. I am so excited to be able to see what I was like freshman year just entering high school and to the woman that I have become today. I think that it is remarkable that I have that chance to be able to look back on my four years of high school. Also when I look back on this, this was the only true steady project that I participated in the entire four years of high school. Freshman year I tried theater, and a few other clubs, I also struggled to adjust to high school and my friends changing. Sophomore year I struggled with school and went to Iran for the first time for a month and half which was the best experience of my life and then in junior year I met Jon who became the love of my life and senior year I woke up. I didn't have a worry in the world.

How do you feel about being on national television?
It doesn't seem real. I feel like we are still working on the project. I am excited for people to see all the work that has gone into this project, as well as the final show. I think that it will really open people's eyes to what high school is really about, as well as what goes on during high school. It is one of the most difficult times of a person's life. We were changing everyday and being pushed to our limit - working hard everyday in Advanced Placement Courses, managing a part time job, family, extracurricular actives and managing friends and social pressures. And then you are sent out into the real world. I look back at high school and I am so glad that I was a part of this project that will open up discussion between parents and teens who are about to embark on their high school career.

If you could go back and do it again, would you? Or would you choose not to? Why?
If I could go back and do high school again I would go back and do everything that I did the same, except I would do everything better. I would be a better friend, I would be more involved with things besides studying and I would have tried harder to make more friends.

I hated freshman year, I felt as if my whole world was changing to fast, but once I adjusted it was amazing. I miss seeing everyone everyday regardless if we were friends or not. I miss seeing the jokesters, the goofballs and the atmosphere. I just wish that I broadened who I hung out with. I also wish sometimes that I put up more of a fight to spend time with friends. My entire high school career I was not allowed out during weekdays, and on Friday I had to be home by nine pm. Saturday and Sunday I spent with family or working my part time job. I wish I spent more time with my friends. I know parents worry that friends can be a bad influence, or that we are up to no good. But if we never make a mistake how are we to learn from them? And if parents do not trust the judgment of their soon to be adult children, how are they to be prepared to be adults? I had great friends who were not bad influences; we were just a bunch of funny goofballs who were very random and laughed so hard we thought we might die.

What are some of your thoughts about the things that happened during the four years of high school? What was your best moment? Your worst?
My best moment was when I walked at graduation. It seemed so unreal that high school was over and that I was about to be on my own to experience the beginning of my adult life, however I chose for myself. And the fact that it is a monumental moment in life, completing high school, what seemed to take forever felt like I blinked my eyes in freshman year and then it was over. My worst moment was freshman year, I felt as if I lost everyone close to me. I felt as if my friends had turned their backs on me, that I was alone, and that no one cared. It was the lowest I have ever felt. The next low was senior year when I realized that I should have tried harder to rebuild friendships and not hold such a grudge about stupid crap that doesn't even matter.

What do you hope high school girls can learn from your story?
I hope two things for high school girls, one to never hold a grudge against anyone no matter what and to learn to be the bigger person and just say 'I am sorry' and truly let whatever it is go. I also hope what girls learn from my story is that there is no right or wrong answer for there future. It is about that they want to do in life. I got married at eighteen and still am going to college. There is no certain path for after high school. As well I think that it is important for people to be honest with them selves and do some serious self-exploring and know who they are going into high school and be yourself. Not changing for friends or cliques, or for a boyfriend. Be yourself always. I changed all through out high school learning more about myself my strengths and my weaknesses. I know I am not the same person as the day I first entered high school, I think that I am a wiser person than that girl who was so nervous and scared for freshman year.

Now that you have some distance, how do you remember your high school experience, was it a good one or was it a struggle?
It was the same as a roller coaster. I went through difficult ups and downs and there was some screaming and crying along the way. Overall though I would go through it again, and I would do it all the same but better. I am happy I showed my love story and my obsession with school and some of my struggles with friends. I also experienced depression, family turmoil that almost ruined my family and fights with myself trying to find out who I was and what I wanted for me. What I wanted for the rest of my life. I have learned to stop looking at the big picture of life and look at it one day at a time. That was the most difficult part, I think. Parents don't realize how much pressure they put on their children - for good grades, going to college, maintaining innocence, etc. When I look back sometimes I think there was more pressure from my family than from friends. My friends always respected what my beliefs were, such as underage drinking and drugs (that I did not participate in) but my parents, I felt at times, no matter how good I was, and never proving my self un-trust worthy, they never let me have more freedom and fun such as going somewhere for spring break or road trip with friends. It they were not related I wasn't allowed to sleep over at friends houses. My parents were strict, but I know when I have kids I am sure that I will follow in their footsteps, they molded me into the woman I am today, which I will always be thankful for. I knew that I could always talk to my parents. My parents have been amazing giving me advice, supporting our decision to get married, helping with our amazing wedding. I could have never asked for better parents and hope to make them extremely proud.

Anything else that you'd like people to know about your experience, who you've become, and what you hope to do in the future?
Who have I become? I love who I am and what I've done with my life. I set out a plan and I have done everything that I said I would do. I married my high school sweetheart and stayed in school. Doing exceptionally well in college. I have received a 4.0 GPA for the three previous semesters and received a full year scholarship. I am awaiting acceptance at a major university here for the nursing school.

I really want people to know that your heart will never lie to you. Jonathon and I will have been married two years September first. We are always laughing when we are together and have happiness is everything in life.

How do you feel about being on national television?
It's kind of brought about mixed emotions. I seems like it will be exciting but there's a lot of uncertainty as well from not knowing what the overall reaction will be.

If you could go back and do it again, would you? Or would you choose not to? Why?
I'm not sure whether or not I would do this all again. It's difficult knowing that a lot people will know so much about my life when some of what they will know are things I'm still working through today; but at the same time, I like to hope that many people will be able to relate to how my life was back in high school and maybe get something positive out of it.

What are some of your thoughts about the things that happened during the four years of high school? What was your best moment? Your worst?
High school seems like a blur now. It went by so fast but I think some of my best moments came when I had to learn to be independent in high school without a boyfriend. It was a strange transition because I had to figure out all over again who I was personally and redefine what truly was important to me. My worst moment by far was when my cousin passed away; it was and is difficult for everyone who was affected by it.

What do you hope high school girls can learn from your story?
I hope that girls can learn that it's normal to change your ideals as you grow up. No one is the same person at age 18 as they were when they were 14 and that's okay! I've come to understand that it was impossible to expect that coming into high school I had already fully developed my personal values because there were so many life experiences left to have (and still more to come) before I can say that I am who I truly want to be.

Now that you have some distance, how do you remember your high school experience, was it a good one or was it a struggle?
Overall, I think that high school was a positive experience for me. I remember many more good times than bad and many of the bad times I do remember, seem trivial now. I've come to realize how important those years were in helping me to become comfortable with the person I am today.

Sara provides an intimate portrait of a young woman caught between two cultures. She cherishes her Persian heritage and recognizes that her family demands very different behaviors than what her American friends experience. Sara's intimate relationship with Jon underscores her bold departure from her parents' wishes. She chooses to date before her parents want her to and she finds love outside her faith and culture. Moreover, Sara's beloved joins the Marines, reminding the betrothed how close “to home’ the Iraqi War may be. Love prevails, and Sara gets her fairytale ending. I often remark that Sara's marriage was one of the most surprising events that happened during filming. She may have been the first girl in her entire class to tie the knot.

In contrast to Sara and Jon, this episode shows Caitlin's courageous decision to de-couple while in high school. Her breakup with Matt was a real act of independence and self-confidence. In her systematic style, she realizes she wants control over her senior year and decides to ride solo. Caitlin's bright-eyed approach to life is always refreshing. I looked forward to filming Caitlin because she is incredibly thoughtful, introspective and insightful. Always upfront about being conflicted regarding how much of her parents' values she wanted to adopt, Caitlin thoughtfully creates a separate identity. In one of the most intimate interviews, Caitlin shares her pain over her cousin's death. I suppose she wanted to share this story because she knew it would loom large for many years in her life. Dealing with mortality is never easy. Yet dealing with death as a teenager seems to be more stunning than at any other time. It's the first time one is old enough to understand the magnitude, yet young enough to still be incredulous.

Both Sara and Caitlin remind us that the high school years bring us slices of life to come. During these years, we learn about love, life, death and hopefully about ourselves.