How do you think your participation changed the course of your high school years?
At first I was negligent to say certain things during interviews because I felt like I was sitting in front of my parents, and I was going to be judged by what I said- even though I was an incredibly naive person my freshman year. But then I was told that what I say about my experiences could help girls who might be going through the same situation as me. It was then that I decided to be open about my thoughts because I would love to know I have helped someone, somehow. By the time the end of my senior year was rolling around, however, I realized that people I know, people that are close to me, might see certain things and judge me by them, so I became nervous. It did not deter me, however, from opening up in what I said.

How do you feel about being on national television?
I am incredibly nervous about being on national television. Information I said on my interviews was personal to me, and not many people know about some of the things said. I am nervous for how 4 years of interviews and filming is going to describe me in 30 minutes to an hour, and how I am going to be perceived as a person, and if it is going to reflect who I really am. I have no idea where this is going to take me, but I hope it just brings me closer to my hopes and dreams for my future, instead of tearing me away from them. However, I am very excited for this opportunity.

If you could go back and do it again, would you? Or would you choose not to? Why?
If I could go back, I would probably not do it again. Initially, I was informed that we would get all of the raw footage, and I thought that would be a great thing to have for the rest of my life - a video documentary of me that is up close and personal. However, when the footage was purchased by NewLine Cinema, I realized that was no longer the case, and that disappointed me. If I can impact one person by my story - then I have accomplished something. The documentary has also caused added drama to my family, and it has enough problems as it is (although it is improving an).

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 is a chapter of my life that has many ups and downs, and all of it shapes me to be who I am today. I did some things I am not proud of, but in no way can I regret them because I would not be who I am today if those things did not take place. The greatest feeling in the world was when I qualified for State in diving my freshman year, followed by overcoming my depression, which would have to be my worst. I never want to have the feeling of depression again - it was the worst feeling in the world and I would give anything to always be happy. Although I did not receive the scholarship I was nominated for regarding my photography, it was a great feeling having my teacher supportive of my work and to be able to feel my potential.

What do you hope high school girls can learn from your story?
I hope girls can learn that life is not always what you want it to be, and you may not always be going where you want to go. It is important to realize you can overcome that pain and struggle and do anything. You may hate your parents, but don't hold on to that hate forever because you really need them one day and you never know when you may not have them anymore, and you never know when they will become your best friend. Don't have any regrets, because they make you who you are, but also don't do anything unless you are sure it's what you want to do. Be who you are - do not hide under make-up and the current fashion because in the end, you just look and act like everyone else. Also, don't write anything down unless you are ok with someone else reading it. Sometime. Eventually.

Now that you have some distance, how do you remember your high school experience? Was it a good one or was it a struggle?
Without my struggles in high school, I couldn't have had the good things happen. I remember each year differently. My freshman year was focused on doing well in school and on the diving team. Sophomore year was rebellion, a search for finding the real me (which wasn't found until college), being so low that I no longer wanted to exist, and taking away everything that was once important to me. Junior year was about recovering from the year before and gaining my confidence back. Senior year was about being a positive role model to the underclassmen, being independent, and preparing for my life in the future.

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?
College is hard. Seriously. Learn how to study in high school because it will save you a lot of stress. Take as many college classes as you can in high school because they are generally "weed-out" classes in college - which means they're hard - and you don't want to mess up with your GPA! Study abroad. Don't do anything you have to think twice on, but don't' stop yourself from doing the things you want. Don't take things the easy way because you will appreciate the things you have learned along the way. If you have (almost) any photographic needs, you know who to contact. www.cate-photography.com
Any more sayings? No. Ok. I think I'm done. : )
Actually, I'm not done yet. TRAVEL! You will be surprised at how much there is to see in the world! Don't limit yourself!

How do you think your participation changed the course of your high school years?
I, originally, wasn't even supposed to be in the series. Being as I was home schooled, Sharon decided I wouldn't be a good candidate because I didn't go to Northwest. Crystle and Cate both got in it along with Sara, whom I all knew well. So halfway through my freshman year I enrolled at Northwest and my life became more exciting. I was invited to interviews with Crystle; Cate and I shared a lot of the same family problems, and I started popping up more and more in the background through all my friends. By Junior year, Sharon had received enough footage of me she decided to make me official.

How do you feel about being on national television?
Being on national television is scary but exciting at the same time. It's like a dream being a "star" having thousands of people possibly watching your life unfold on camera, its all very intimidating. It's more of a nervous excitement, like waiting backstage at a play as the seconds drop off till it's your turn to appear and say your lines. I'm more worried about what my family will see and say. All of what was captured happened so I can't lie to my mom because she herself appeared in it several times and knows that it's not fake, none of it was made up. Then there are the distant relatives that will want to watch it and what if my mam'maw realizes I'm not that sweet angel she thought I was? Also, what if all this sounds really good but then nobody watches it and it's a flop and just a waste of time? So simply put, it's exciting but nerve racking at the same time.

If you could go back and do it again, would you? If not, why?
The series... Definitely. High school... no way. The series was so much fun. We only would do interviews once in a while and the cameras would only be there sometimes so it wasn't obtrusive in my life at all. It was like a side project to my life. It also was a lot of fun when they would come to school when it was in session to get shots while we were in class and all the other students were just like, "What's that for?" And then you get to brag about it and feel all special. Because really, what are the chances of being chosen for a reality series in Kansas? I would not want to redo high school because it was a waste of time. The classes were pointless. I would kill for a worksheet now. Thinking back on the workload and what we actually learned, was retarded. I learn more in one day in college than a whole year spent in high school. I would love the workload again, like the homework, but it took way too long for nothing to get accomplished.

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 in high school would probably be when I fell / jumped off the lockers and twisted my ankle. Doesn't sound like a good memory but it makes me laugh about how stupid I was then. My friends and I always would jump on the lockers and chill and Gina's boyfriend was like, "Hey, lets jump over the lockers." Of course I agreed, so I jumped up and on the other side the principal was standing there helping a student with their locker and before I could get my feet back under myself I shoved myself backwards and landed sideways on my ankle. The worst part was I threw my water bottle when I shoved myself off and it busted and got my principal wet and made this huge mess and I tried to hobble away but my ankle prevented me from getting very far. Luckily I didn't get in any trouble except a scowl. That's kind of my good/bad memory, 'cause the ankle sucked but it was a lot of fun.

What do you hope high school girls can learn from your story?
I hope girls can learn not to worry about how they dress and what people think about them and just focus on being themselves. Also, from coming from a difficult family situation I hope girls learn that even though their life is difficult at that moment, it gets better and life goes on. I know it sounds cheesy, but stay true to yourself and know that life will get better even though it doesn't seem like it will.

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 not a struggle, it was a very important time in my life and it made me who I am today, I found myself throughout high school and am still finding myself in college. I don't regret anything that happened in high school, except maybe some of my outfit decisions. It was hard at times due to family and personal problems but overall it was a good time.

How do you think your participation changed the course of your high school years?
I honestly don't think my participation in this project changed anything about my high school experience - it was not a huge part of my life. I did not think, "Oh, this will look great/horrible on camera." I just lived my life as I wanted to, and there just happened to be cameras there for part of the time.

How do you feel about being on national television?
I feel excited and a little nervous about being on national television, although I do not think it will drastically change my life one way or the other - eventually people will forget, since fame is rather ephemeral.

If you could go back and do it again, would you? Or would you choose not to? Why?
I would participate in the documentary again; it really did not intrude in my life too much, and it provided a good time to reflect on my high school life while it was occurring.

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?
I enjoyed my high school experience overall. My junior and senior years were much more fun for me, both academically and socially. If I were to change anything about my high school experience it would be relaxing more in the early years. During freshman year especially, I was freaked out by teachers and counselors alike about getting good grades, so I don't think I enjoyed life as much as I should have. Life is all about balancing work and fun, and by junior year I had achieved that balance. The worst moment in high school was probably when I saw I did not get into Georgetown, but it turned out to be a great thing, because I ended up at Penn.

What do you hope high school girls can learn from your story?
I hope high school girls learn to be themselves, however weird or different they may feel. I also hope that parents of high school girls learn to relax more about their children's grades and let teachers do their jobs - that's what my parents did and it worked out better than I could have dreamed. The best advice I can give to girls is to follow their passion, be it medicine, law, teaching, or whatever. Find something that makes you feel alive.

Now that you have some distance, how do you remember your high school experience, was it a good one or was it a struggle?
High school was fun for me because I had a solid understanding of who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. I had a supportive family and small group of close friends that really didn't change between freshman and senior year. My exponential intellectual growth and accomplishments were the result of superb teachers who did not teach to the test, but rather shared their love of the subject with me.

During my initial interview with Cate I learned that she lost her mom three years prior. For me, it was one of the most difficult pieces of information to process. Cate was about to embark on the most confusing four years of her life and she didn't have her mom! I thought about my own daughter, and how devastating that would be for her. Who was going to listen to Cate's stories throughout high school? I knew she had to be part of the documentary…on the spot.

When Cate described to me her self-destructive behaviors I always heard a second voice saying, “I will be okay, I just want my mommy.” I felt guilty at times that I was the one to hear Cate's innermost thoughts because her mom deserved that privilege. I believe that Cate was really fortunate to have Rick for a dad - a man who quickly learned how to be a full-time parent - with pre-adolescent twin girls! Since he was divorced when Cate's mom died, he had to adjust rather abruptly to having sole responsibility for them. And, while Cate had her challenges with her step mom Tammy, she benefited from having such an intuitive maternal force in her life. It was indeed Tammy's discovery of Cate's high-risk behavior that compelled Rick to seek help for his daughter. Tammy represented Mother Earth to me.

Lauren is destined to make a huge mark on our world. At fourteen years old, Lauren told me that she wished she had the superpower to “read minds.” Since, most girls her age want to know what other kids think of them, it made sense to me. Then Lauren clarified that she would use the power to unequivocally determine if Saddam Hussein actually had weapons of mass destruction! Lauren's unique approach to the world and passion for positive change were fascinating traits to document. Observing Lauren's maturity was captivating for me. She knew she was different and she celebrated it. As she evolved, she became more and more comfortable with this. Lauren puts a lot of pressure on herself to accomplish as much as humanly possible each day. It's almost as if there is an invisible timer standing beside her calling off the seconds.

Both Cate and Lauren share stories that are more enlightening when viewed in the context of their families. I often wonder if their paths would have been different given an alternative set of family circumstances. Of course we will never know. But I do know that both Cate and Lauren, as well as their families, were extremely courageous to allow their personal stories to be documented. They certainly share a strong desire to help others through their stories.