Back to School Questions, 2023

I have asked and plan to ask the kids these questions on the first day of each school year. It's one of my favorite conversations with the kids each year. It started when Kai went to kindergarten… This year he started his second year at Penn State and Lila started her first And C started 10th grade. Time flies... Here you go:

Kai, 2023 - PSU, Year 2

First day of PSU classes, 2023

Favorite Book:
2023: The Road

2022: Ready Player One 
2021: Ready Player One
2020: Ready Player One
2019: Ready Player One
2018: Ready Player One
2017: The Divided We Fall series by Trent Reedy
2016: Summer Ball by Mike Lupica
2015: Wings of Fire, The Dark Secret
2014: Percy Jackson
2013: Diary of A Wimpy Kid #7: The Third Wheel
2012: Diary of A Wimpy Kid
2011: Diary of A Wimpy Kid
2010: Superhero books
2009: I Spy Superheroes

Favorite Movie:
2023: GoodFellas
2022: GoodFellas

2021: GoodFellas
2020: GoodFellas
2019: Pulp Fiction
2018: The Dark Knight
2017: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
2016: Life of Pets
2015: Jurassic World
2014: Guardians of the Galaxy
2013: Avatar
2012: Transformers
2011: Yogi Bear
2010: Pokemon
2009: Star Wars

Favorite Musician:
2023: Lil Uzi Vert or DC the Don
2022: Lil Uzi Vert or DC the Don
2021: Lil Uzi Vert
2020: Lil Uzi Vert
2019: Lil Uzi Vert
2018: J. Cole
2017: J. Cole
2016: J. Cole
2015: Dr. Dre
2014: Eminem
2013: Macklemore
2012: LMFAO
2011: A guy named Kai that sings Sonic Songs
2010: Uncle Bono
2009: Michael Jackson

Favorite TV Show:
2023: The Sopranos

2022: Naruto 
2021: Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2020: Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2019: Rick & Morty
2018: Family Guy
2017: Family Guy
2016: Psych
2015: Modern Family
2014: The Last Ship
2013: Regular Show
2012: Pair of Kings
2011: Sonic X
2010: Bakugan
2009: Bakugan

Favorite Food:
2023: Wings
2022: Wings

2021: Wings 
2020: Buffalo Wings
2019: Buffalo Wings
2018: Wings
2017: Wings
2016: Sushi
2015: Wings
2014: California Sushi Roll
2013: California Sushi Roll
2012: Pizza
2011: Bacon and Grilled Cheese from The Waffle Shop
2010: Pizza
2009: Pizza

What do you want to be when you grow up?
2023: Music Producer
2022: Music Producer
2021: Supply Chain Mgmt / producing music 
2020: Real Estate Agent
2019: I have no clue
2018: I have no clue
2017: Sports Journalist
2016: Professional Athlete
2015: Professional Soccer Player
2014: Soccer Player
2013: Professional Goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspurs; (2015 addendum, Kai asked to change this to Arsenal… too bad kid, can’t change the past)
2012: Shark scientist
2011: I either want to make games, be a shark scientist or be a snake scientist; hopefully, I can do them all
2010: snake scientist
2009: snake scientist

Best Part of Summer:
2023: Europe & Music

2022: Europe
2021: Fishing 
2020: Watching all my shows
2019: Hawai’i
2018: Messiah Soccer Camp
2017: Hanging out with friends
2016: Hanging out with friends
2015: Northport
2014: Hanging out with friends
2013: USA vs. El Salvador soccer game in Baltimore with Dad
2012: Playing with my friends
2011: Hershey Park
2010: Going "Up North"
2009: Weekend w/Daddy

Best Friends:
2023: Perry, Gavin, Luke, & Kat

2022: Gavin & Perry & Ellie
2021: Ellie, Emmet 
2020: Emmet, Jack, Connor, Eric, Chris
2019: Michael, Alden, Emmet, Connor, Davis
2018: Connor, Davis, Carson
2017: Davis, Connor, Carson
2016: Carson, Nick, Sean, Brady, John and Rees
2015: Carson, Kaiden, Daniel, Davis and Alex
2014: Scott, Daniel, Miles, Jack
2013: Scott
2012: Josh, Alex and Scott
2011: Josh and Alex
2010: Josh, Holden, Eli
2009: Porter, Holden, Bennett

Favorite Toy:
2023: Laptop
2022: Laptop

2021: Xbox 
2020: Xbox
2019: Xbox
2018: Xbox
2017: Xbox
2016: Soccer ball
2015: Soccer ball
2014: Minecraft toys
2013: Sonic action figures
2012: Sonic toys
2011: Transformers
2010: Star Wars Lego Battle of Endor
2009: Transformers

Favorite Activity:
2023: Music

2022: Making music
2021: hanging out 
2020: Soccer
2019: Soccer
2018: Soccer
2017: Soccer
2016: Soccer
2015: Soccer
2014: Soccer
2013: Soccer
2012: Basketball and Video Games
2011: Playing football w/Daddy
2010: Throwing football w/Daddy
2009: Baseball

Favorite Place To Visit:
2023: Philly

2022: Gettysburg
2021: Northport
2020: Charleston
2019: Gettysburg
2018: Florida
2017: Pittsburgh
2016: Gainesville
2015: Barcelona
2014: Florida
2013: Northport, but not the drive to get there
2012: Florida
2011: Hershey Park
2010: Northport
2009: Chicago

Favorite Animal:
2023: Harper

2022: Harper
2021: Harper
2020: Harper
2019: Harper
2018: Harper
2017: Dog
2016: Golden Retrievers
2015: Mako Shark
2014: Sharks
2013: Sharks
2012: Sharks
2011: Sharks
2010: Snakes
2009: Lions

Likely Major:
2023: Marketing

2022: Supply Chain

College To Attend:
2022: Penn State (*final answer*)
2021: Pitt
2020: No idea
2019: “By the beach”
2018: "Away from State College"
2017: Florida
2016: I haven’t even thought about that yet
2015: I haven’t started thinking about that yet
2014: Penn State
2013: Penn State
2012: Penn State and Florida
2011: Penn State and Florida
2010: Penn State and Florida
2009: UF

Favorite Subject (New question in 2016):
2023: History

2022: I don’t know yet
2021: History
2020: History
2019: Science
2018: Science
2017: Gym
2016: Gym

Place You Most Want To Visit (New question in 2017):
2023: The Netherlands

2022: Australia
2021: Australia 
2020: Australia
2019: Australia
2018: Australia
2017: Los Angeles

Lila, 2023, PSU Year 1

First day at Penn State

Favorite Book:
2023: The Great Gatsby

2022: The Great Gatsby
2021: And Then There Were None
2020: I don't really have one
2019: And Then There Were None
2018: Between Shades of Grey
2017: Something In Between
2016: The Hour of the Bees
2015: The Fourteenth Goldfish or Wonder
2014: The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
2013: Piper Reed
2012: Princess Posey
2011: Pinkalicious
2010: Princess and The Frog

Favorite Movie:
2023: Top Gun Maverick & Argo
2022: Top Gun Maverick & Argo
2021: Legally Blonde & Mean Girls
2020: Just Mercy & Argo
2019: “I don’t really watch movies”
2018: "I don't really like movies"
2017: “Movies aren’t really my thing”
2016: “I don’t really have a favorite.”
2015: Remember The Titans, McFarland USA or Hoosiers
2014: Disney Movies
2013: Pitch Perfect
2012: Mirror Mirror
2011: Barbie
2010: Princess and The Frog

Favorite Musician:
2023: Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, J. Cole, & Inhaler
2022: Shawn Mendes & Inhaler
2021: Shawn, J Cole, Briston Maroney, & not the stuff Kai listens to 
2020: Shawn, J Cole, Tate McRae, & Iann Dior
2019: Shawn Mendes, J Cole, Charlie Puth, and Arianna Grande
2018: Shawn Mendes and Charlie Puth
2017: Shawn Mendes
2016: Adele
2015: Katy Perry
2014: Katy Perry
2013: Maroon 5
2012: Maroon 5
2011: Hot Chelle Rae
2010: Beyonce

Favorite TV Show:
2023: Suits

2022: Stranger Things
2021: Greys Anatomy, Outer Banks, Jane The Virgin
2020: Grey's Anatomy 
2019: Grey’s Anatomy & 13 Reasons Why
2018: 1st season of Riverdale, 2nd season of 13 Reasons Why
2017: Degrassi
2016: Psych
2015: Masterchef or Girl Meets World
2014: Masterchef
2013: Austin and Ally;
2012: Shake It Up;
2011: SpongeBob;
2010: Phineas and Ferb

Favorite Food:
2023: Chens

2022: Chens, Sesame Chicken Salads, Steak, Tacos & Wings
2021: Sesame Chicken Salads, Steak, Tacos & Wings 
2020: Wings, Chipotle, & Burgers
2019: Buffalo Wings & Brussels Sprouts
2018: Tacos, Wings, Pizza, Burgers and "anything potatoes."
2017: Tacos or Wings
2016: Tacos and the Waffle Shop’s burger
2015: Tacos and Wings (Not together)
2014: Tacos
2013: Tacos
2012: Papa John’s Pizza with extra pepperoni
2011: Chicken Fingers
2010: Square Pizza

What do you want to be when you grow up?
2023: Marketing Manager

2022: Marketer for something in the fashion industry
2021: In an ideal world, I would be a marketer for a fashion brand 
2020: "I have no clue."
2019: An engineer
2018: I don't know... maybe some sort of engineer
2017: A Google employee
2016: I don’t know
2015: An Artist or a Swimmer
2014: I don’t know
2013: An artist
2012: An artist
2010: Artist and Singer

Best Part of Summer:
2023: All of the traveling

2022: Europe
2021: Gettysburg & Antigua 
2020: Being with friends and the beach
2019: Michigan & Cleveland
2018: Del Grosso's and Northport
2017: Gettysburg and Maine, Having Kate and Morgan come to Dad’s volleyball at the Ramada
2016: Del Grosso’s, the drive-in, and the swim team
2015: Delaware trip (family trip with Tiffany, first trip to the ocean)
2014: Katy Perry concert w/Dad
2013: Hangin’ with my fam!
2012: Northport
2011: Water Park
2010: Up North

Best Friends:
2023: Ian, Grace L., Mike, Riley, & Grace C.

2022: Ian, Grace, & Emma
2021: Ian, Emma & Morgan 
2020: Emma & Morgan
2019: Mer & Linley
2018: I just like my group of friends
2017: Morgan, Kate, Grace, Maddie, Liz
2016: Elaina
2015: Luna, Molly and Catherine
2014: Catherine, Luna and Mackenzie
2013: Catherine, Mackenzie, Sophia, Laura and Cassidy
2012: Catherine, Mackenzie and Bella
2011: Emma and Bella
2010: Bella, Haila, Connor

Favorite Toy:
2023: Sherbie, Blankie, Unicorn pillow, phone, Mac and iPad 
2022: Sherbie, Blankie, Unicorn pillow, phone and iPad 
2021: My phone & Sherbie and Blankie, of course 
2020: My phone (& Sherbie & Blankie, because I know people get upset if they fall off the list)
2019: Sherbie, Blankie & my phone
2018: My phone
2017: Sherbie, Blankie, and my phone
2016: Sherbie, Blankie, and my art supplies
2015: Sherbie, Blankie, my Elephant pillow pet
2014: Sherbie, Blankie, my Elephant pillow pet and my American Girls
2013: Sherbie, Blankie, my big-eyed animals and my pillow pet
2012: Sherbie and Blankie
2011: My American Girl
2010: Princess dolls

Favorite Activity:
2023: Hanging out with my friends
2022: Hanging out with my friends
2021: Hanging out with friends & buying clothes 
2020: Hanging out with friends
2019: Hanging out with friends
2018: Hanging out with friends
2017: Hanging out with friends
2016: Hanging out with friends or arts and crafts
2015: Art
2014: Sewing class
2013: Gymnastics
2012: Gymnastics
2011: Art
2010: Art

Favorite Place To Visit:
2023: Rome

2022: Europe, specifically Portugal, Paris and Mallorca
2021: Gettysburg, Northport, Antigua and the beach
2020: Northport, Charleston, & NYC
2019: Michigan, San Francisco & Gettysburg
2018: Amusement Parks, Gettysburg, and Northport
2017: Gettysburg, Maine, Northport, and San Francisco
2016: Gettysburg, Northport, and Canada
2015: San Francisco and Delaware (family trip - first trip to the ocean)
2014: Michigan
2013: Northport
2012: New York City and Florida
2011: New York City
2010: Up North and New York City

Favorite Animal:
2023: Piper, Harper, Griffey, & Penguins

2022: Parrots, penguins, Harper, Griffey, Piper, & Pep. 
2021: Griffey. And Harper & Piper. 
2020: Black cats
2019: Griffey
2018: Dogs
2017: Penguin
2016: Piglets
2015: Owl, Parrot, Penguin and Peacock
2014: Parrots
2013: Parrots and Owls
2012: Cheetahs
2011: Dogs
2010: Flamingos

Likely Major:

2023: Marketing

College To Attend:
2023: Still thinking about it (laughs)

2022: (laughs) No idea (long list)
2021: pfft. A UC school would be preferred. Or UF. 
2020: I don't know... maybe a UC school.
2019: Stanford
2018: Stanford
2017: Stanford
2016: No clue
2015: Any major schools “Harvard, Yale, something like that"
2014: Penn State or Florida or whoever gives me a scholarship or Yale or Harvard if I get into somewhere like that
2013: Florida and Penn State
2012: Florida and Penn State
2011: Penn State
2010: One in NYC

Favorite Subject (New question in 2016):
2023: Business

2022: Leadership In Business and Chemistry
2021: English 
2020: AP Human Geography 
2019: Math and Science
2018: Math and Social Studies
2017: Math
2016: Math or Art

Place You Most Want To Visit (New question in 2017):
2023: Somewhere in Asia and the south of France

2022: Eastern Mediterranean & Asia
2021: Italy or Tokyo or France
2020: The Caribbean and Tokyo 
2019: Somewhere tropical
2018: Somewhere tropical, like the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, or something.
2017: A tropical place, like the Bahamas, where there are huts on the water and pretty water

Cecilia, 2023

First day of 10th grade

Favorite Book:
2023: Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beautiful Boy, The Barbarian Days of a Surfing Life, & Looking for Alaska

2022: The Martian
2021: Ready Player One
2020: Dear Martin
2019: Mysterious Benedict Society
2018: The Land of Stories
2017: Mr. Popper’s Penguins
2016: The first Spirit Animals book
2015: Hunted
2014: Pokemon
2013: My Power Rangers Books

Favorite Movie:
2023: Almost Famous

2022: Catch Me If You Can
2021: Catch Me If You Can
2020: Mighty Ducks
2019: I don’t know
2018: Space Jam
2017: Catch Me If You Can
2016: Miracle
2015: Guardians of the Galaxy
2014: Star Wars
2013: Spider-man

Favorite Musician:
2023: Backseat Lovers, Brett Faiyaz, Drake, & Noah Kahan

2022: Joey Bada$$
2021: Joey Bada$$, J Cole, Eric DOA 
2020: Lil Uzi Vert
2019: Marshmello
2018: U2
2017: Adam Levine
2016: One Republic
2015: Maroon 5
2014: Macklemore
2013: Psy

Favorite TV Show:
2023: Money Heist

2022: Money Heist
2021: Outer Banks
2020: Psych
2019: Series of Unfortunate Events
2018: Series of Unfortunate Events
2017: Baseball
2016: Baseball
2015: Kirby Buckets
2014: Phineas and Ferb
2013: Jake and The Neverland Pirates

Favorite Food:
2023: Chicken Alfredo

2022: Chipotle  
2021: Dad’s ribs 
2020: Crabs
2019: Tiffany’s Mac & Cheese Cups
2018: Pasta
2017: Crabs
2016: Spaghetti
2015: Bananas (said like a Minion)
2014: Squid
2013: Mashed Potatoes

What do you want to be when you grow up?
2023: Something in art like a videographer, filmmaker, etc.

2022: Photographer
2021: Movie Industry 
2020: Architect
2019: Architect
2018: Architect or US Women's Soccer Player
2017: Veterinarian
2016: Veterinarian
2015: Baseball player
2014: Soccer player
2013: Astronaut

Best Part of Summer:
2023: Europe

2022: Europe
2021: Gettysburg & playing hockey 
2020: Going to Gettysburg and having crabfest
2019: Cleveland trip with Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and US Soccer match
2018: Mountain Bike Camp and Cooperstown trip
2017: Steelers Game
2016: Winning the Little League Summer Championship
2015: Going to the Detroit Tigers’ game “My dream came true.”
2014: Swimming at Eileen and Norbert's
2013: Swimming in Eileen’s pool

Best Friends:
2023: Malia, Camden, Caleb, Hadley, Teagan

2022: Sam, Camden, Cole
2021: Sam, Johnny, Cole, Ellie, Ian
2020: Griffin, Avery, Joe, Byrson, Tim, Lincoln, Jack
2019: Tim, Silas, Abby, Gugu, Bruno, Stella, Kate, Emerson
2018: Abby, Lila, Bruno, GuGu, Silas
2017: Brady, Isti, and Sergio
2016: Brady, Haryn, River, Kade, Isti, Serge, and Bohdi
2015: Kade, Sergio and Isti
2014: Bodhi, Caleb and Isti
2013: Mossimo and Gabe

Favorite Toy:
2023: Skateboard & Tech Deck

2022: Skateboard
2021: Xoro stick 
2020: Hockey Stick & Puck
2019: Legos
2018: Bike
2017: Scooter
2016: My scooter, “I like scooting.”
2015: Baseball bat
2014: Bike
2013: Diego Truck

Favorite Activity:
2023: Skating

2022: Skateboarding
2021: Hockey
2020: Hockey
2019: Mountain Biking
2018: Basketball, Soccer, and Mountain Biking
2017: Sports
2016: Scootering and Baseball
2015: Baseball
2014: Biking
2013: Soccer

Favorite Place To Visit:
2023: Northport

2022: Paris
2021: Gettysburg, Charleston, and Northport 
2020: Eileen & Norbert's house 
2019: Eileen & Norbert’s house
2018: Northport and Gettysburg
2017: Northport
2016: Canada and Northport
2015: Eileen and Norbert’s
2014: Northport
2013: Gettysburg

Favorite Animal:
2023: Harper

2022: Harper
2021: Harper
2020: Harper
2019: Harper
2018: Harper
2017: Wolf
2016: Huskie
2015: Cheetah and Tiger
2014: Electric Eel
2013: Eagles

Likely Major:
2023: Design

College To Attend:
2023: Savannah School of Art & Design

2022: UF
2021: PSU
2020: Florida or Penn State
2019: Penn State
2018: Penn State for Architecture
2017: Penn State and Florida or Michigan State for Vet School
2016: Penn State
2015: Penn State
2014: Penn State
2013: Penn State

Favorite Subject (New question in 2016):
2023: History

2022: Social Studies
2021: Science 
2020: English because David is an awesome teacher or Politics & Elections
2019: Math
2018: Math
2017: History
2016: Math

Place You Most Want To Visit (New question in 2017):
2023: Italy

2022: Italy
2021: Toronto
2020: Vegas Golden Knights' Arena
2019: Florida
2018: Florida
2017: Florida

Previous First Days: