First introduced as an enrichment activity during the study of City of Ember in fifth-grade English, the project has since evolved into a cornerstone of the Media program. Now guided by the expertise of fifth-grade Media students, who bring skills in video editing to the table, the project has become a multimedia masterpiece—and a heartfelt keepsake.

Over my 11 years teaching English and Media Literacy at Ascension, I’ve witnessed the profound impact of these interviews. These projects don’t just record stories; they preserve moments of a life well-lived. Former students often reach out to revisit their interviews after their loved ones have passed, transforming what began as a school assignment into a treasured family heirloom.

I remember Anil, a fifth-grader, who emailed to retrieve his interview with his neighbor to share at their funeral. Brayden reached out to recover his recorded conversation with his veteran grandfather, who had recently passed. Recently, the project surfaced again when Senior Addison Mills' parents and I reminisced. They remembered her fifth-grade interview with her grandfather and hoped we could find it after his passing. Though we couldn’t locate her brother Austin’s recording, we uncovered Addison’s. Watching the video, Addison’s father, Brady Mills, said, “I haven’t heard his voice in a long time.” Moments like these are a poignant reminder of the project’s lasting impact.

Today’s fifth-grade Media students continue the Change Over Time project with enthusiasm, combining storytelling, technology, and creativity to preserve memories. While we encourage students to save their work to their Google Drive, I always recommend downloading and archiving these special videos at home—or even uploading them to a private YouTube channel for safekeeping, just as we do with nine seasons of the Blue Gator Buzz.

Each day, I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of Ascension Episcopal School, creating memories in the Media studio with our Blue Gators. Through projects like Change Over Time, our students not only learn but also leave a legacy—one that lasts far beyond their years in our classrooms.