Q: When did you find out you were moving?

A: “My parents have been saying they’ve wanted to move since I’ve been in middle school, but it never seemed real to me because they never really moved forward with it. Then this past summer, my mom confirmed getting a distance job with her work and my parents put the house up for sale. They accepted an offer this fall and that’s when I was sure things were starting to happen.”

Q: Where are you moving to?

A: “My parents are aiming for either Cocoa Beach or Satellite Beach or somewhere near those areas [in Florida].”

Q: When are you leaving?

A: “Some time after Dec. 19 but likely before winter break ends.”

Q: What are your feelings about moving just before Christmas?

A: “[The thought of moving is] kind of sad, really. I’ll miss being able to celebrate with my friends. On the flip side, we will be moving closer to family down there, so we’ll probably spend Christmas with my grandparents.”

Q: What do you think you’ll miss the most?

A: “[I’ll] definitely miss my friends, because I’ve known some of them for most of my life. It’s hard to leave them and put such a huge distance between us. [I’ll also miss] the familiarity of living somewhere I’ve always known.”

Q: What are your plans after the move?

A: “Well, attending high school there for the next year and a half to start. I’ll try and make new friends there, but I’ll try to keep in touch with my friends here too. I’d really like to come back to the Chicago area for college if it’s possible.”