A simple question asked on the first morning of school has turned into a nationwide viral moment for Germantown High School.
Capturing a Class Milestone
Senior Sunrise is a GHS tradition where the graduating class gathers at dawn on the practice football fields on the first day of school. Camera in hand, Emma asked her Class of 2027 peers a simple question: "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
Though Emma recently launched a photography business, producing a large-scale video project was a new venture.
"We’ve been growing up alongside each other since middle school," Emma shared. "I thought it would be cool to see where everyone wants to end up—it’s a fun thing to look back on in 10 years to see how accurate we were."
The Process: Balling on a Budget
Editing entirely on her smartphone, Emma spent hours stringing together student responses. She paired the footage with the song "Where'd All the Time Go," a track that resonated with seniors watching their high school years fly by.
"I didn't cut anybody," Emma said. "Everyone who was filmed made the video because I wanted a diverse variety of answers."
Sparking Realism and Inspiring Others
Within a week of posting, the video exploded on social media, with tens of thousands of likes rolling in daily. Viewers praised the authentic answers—from career goals and starting families to student Sierra’s simple wish "to just be happy."
The video's reach has extended well beyond Germantown, inspiring student leaders at other high schools to replicate the project.
"It's an honor to know it's inspiring others," Emma reflected. "We’re all people with our own dreams, and it’s cool that other kids want to get to know their classmates better, too."
Listen to the full conversation: https://youtu.be/yv9ED1L8XNY
Watch Emma's "In 10 Years" video via GSDwi.org/in10years