In a world where time seems to fly by faster than we can grasp, one Pittsburgh dad found a unique way to cherish every fleeting moment of his daughter’s childhood. Ray Petelin, a father and meteorologist, embarked on a heartwarming tradition that has now captivated the hearts of many: he recorded a short interview with his daughter, Elizabeth, on the first day of school every year, starting from kindergarten and continuing through her senior year of high school.
Petelin recently shared a compilation of these interviews on TikTok, showcasing the incredible journey of his daughter growing up. The video, which quickly went viral, offers a bittersweet glimpse into Elizabeth’s transformation from a bright-eyed kindergartner to a confident 17-year-old about to embark on her final year of high school.
“I interviewed my daughter on every first day of school. We just did the last one,” Petelin wrote in text overlay on the video, punctuating the sentiment with a crying emoji. His pride for Elizabeth is palpable as he adds in the caption, “I’m so proud of this young woman. #girldad #senioryear #dad.”
@raypetelin I’m so proud of this young woman. #girldad #senioryear #dad ♬ Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
The video, masterfully edited, allows viewers to witness Elizabeth’s growth through the years—from the changing pitch of her voice to the evolution of her dreams and aspirations. Each clip begins the same way: with Petelin asking Elizabeth to say and spell her name. The contrast between little Elizabeth’s soft, cherubic voice and the more mature tones of her 17-year-old self is both adorable and gut-wrenching, pulling at the heartstrings of parents and viewers everywhere.
Over the years, Elizabeth’s dreams have shifted as much as her appearance. At various points in her childhood, she aspired to be a doctor, a teacher, a magician, a waitress, a smoothie store owner, a homemaker, an open-heart surgeon, and most recently, a physical therapist or a nurse. Petelin’s video beautifully captures these changes, underscoring just how much kids grow and evolve throughout their school years.
One of the most touching moments in the compilation comes when Petelin tells Elizabeth, as he did every year, that he and her mother love her and wish her a happy school year. The final clip shows 17-year-old Elizabeth jokingly predicting that her dad is going to cry. Petelin, trying to hold back his emotions, simply replies, “No. I love you.” The video then cuts to a much younger Elizabeth, sweetly responding, “I love you too. Is the school bus here now?”
The emotional journey didn’t just resonate with TikTok viewers; Petelin also shared the video on his X account (formerly known as Twitter), where it received an outpouring of support. One user, who had seen the video on TikTok, commented, “Saw it on TikTok earlier, so cool! Have a 7-month-old daughter at home and already hitting me in the feels.” Petelin responded with words of wisdom: “It flies by, but nothing is more rewarding… Nothing.”
Another dad, inspired by Petelin’s tradition, asked whether he should start something similar with his daughter, who was about to start daycare. Petelin encouraged him, saying, “The earlier the better. When Elizabeth graduated preschool, she wanted to ‘be a mermaid, but not a real mermaid because I still want to live with my mommy and daddy.’”
For anyone watching Petelin’s video, it’s hard not to get emotional. His dedication to documenting his daughter’s growth and his ability to cherish every moment serves as a beautiful reminder to parents everywhere: time with our children is precious, and it passes in the blink of an eye. Whether it’s through videos, photos, or simple memories, capturing these moments ensures they’ll be treasured forever.
