Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

It's my job to tell people's stories. It's my privilege to be able to share my story with them. With the advent of the school year, the photography department at The Tribune began a project documenting the first year of Volcano Vista High School. The principal, Yvonne Garcia, graciously opened the doors to her school and let us peek into the lives of the student body. On my first trip to the school, I went to lunch. There I met the cackling gaggle of students pictured above. Ryan Cousins (far left) acted like his eye was poked out. Nina Grant tried to nap, very unsuccessfully, on her friend Joshua Stilwell's leg as he antagonized Samantha Serna. They were playful and hysterical. I had a blast taking their picture.

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It's my job to tell people's stories. It's my privilege to be able to share my story with them.

At the beginning of the school year, the photography department at The Tribune began a project documenting the first year of Volcano Vista High School. The principal, Yvonne Garcia, graciously opened the doors to her school and let us peek into the lives of the student body.

On my first trip to the school, I went to lunch. There I met the cackling gaggle of students pictured above. Ryan Cousins (far left) acted like his eye was poked out. Nina Grant tried to nap, very unsuccessfully, on her friend Joshua Stilwell's leg as he antagonized Samantha Serna. They were playful and hysterical. I had a blast taking their picture.

I returned to the school two weeks later to speak to the yearbook class about photography. I showed them pictures from the six newspapers where I have worked and from graduate school, hoping something would inspire them.

I explained why my job is the greatest in the world, how each day is different, how I meet all kinds of people and am shown glimpses into so many walks of life.

Again, the students were playful and hysterical. They peppered me with questions, stared open-mouthed at some of the images and no one fell asleep.

The 34 kids in that classroom reminded me just how far I've come since I was a high schooler with aspirations of becoming a photographer. I got my dream job.