An experience that changed his life is having a hard time traveling from Africa to America and making a new family. - Abou B

The experiences of my subject don't change my life because he is a normal dad to me. - Abou B.

1) Moving to New York was hard because he had to adapt to a new language and life. 2) Another life-changing experience was seeing his mom after 17 years and having his first child…ME! - Alana D.

This was life-changing because his whole demeanor changed and he left his entire family in Cuba! This was also life changing because he hadn't seen his mom in so long and your first child will always be the largest memory.

An experience that my mom had that was life changing for her is that her father passed away before her daughter (me) was even born. - Alyssa B.

My mom and her dad had a very good relationship. It was a very emotional time for my mom. - Alyssa B.

The life changing experience was that when her father passed away she [believed] that he is still alive. What made her think that is she felt something like a connection that her father is by her. - Anima R.

The experiences make her remember the past and memories with her dad. - Anima R.

Going to boarding school has been a really big change for her and it took time to adapt. - Brittney R.

In New York there was not a lot of open fields and in Wellesley there is open space. - Brittney R.

The experience my mom had that was life changing for her is that she went to Africa to see her mom and it was when I came with her. - Coumba D.

The experience changed the subject because it was my first time going to Africa. - Coumba D.

It changed her because when she came to America she had 4 kids and she was in good conditions. - Fatimata L.

She wants us all to live a better life. - Fatimata L.

My dad says "having my kids was my most important life changing moment. This is important because you go from having no one to looking out for someone." - Gabriel J.

This doesn't change how I view him. I knew that he looked out for me. - Gabriel J.

A life changing experience for him was having me. - Kedrin C.

He has to take care of me. - Kedrin C.

Having a child at the age of 37 after her other children were teenagers and living with relatives. - Mayakla F.

Starting all over again. Being responsible and an older parent. Raising a child from beginning to end. It makes me strong knowing I was this child. - Makayla F.

On May 22nd, 2004 Lyema gave birth to a baby girl by way of a C-section. Becoming a new mother, Lyema did not know what to expect. Suddenly her life was filled with great responsibilities. - Nickema H.

I'm the baby girl and I know all the responsibilities my mom has in raising me. - Nickema H.

She moved from Haiti to New York when she was only 15 years old with her mom and sister. There are way more opportunities here than her home country. - Nya G.

I view her as very brave and outgoing to go through such a difficult change. - Nya G.

Brandy at first needed and was looking for a job. She went to Albany and now she has a job. - Rondell W.

It was life changing because at first she didn't have a job and now she does. - Rondell W.

What was life changing for my grandfather is that in Bangladesh there was a war. Pakistan wanted to take control of Bangladesh but we said no. He had to hide in many different places and some of his friends and relatives died so it was harder to survive. - Ziaul H.

Now he has children and nephews and nieces to help him. - Ziaul H.

"November 22, 2013 on a Friday it was lunch time at M.S. 113. I was on the lunch line and I had my fingers in the hinge of the door. As I was leaning my left ring finger got caught in the door and it closed on my finger so they had to amputate [it]" - Ziyi's brother Ziynou

Ziynou is more responsible for his actions [now]. - Ziyi F.

"At the age of 14 my complexion began to change from brown to light. I have a skin condition called Vitiligo. People often [made] unflattering comments in regards to my skin discoloration." - Alicia R. She is still my mother and I love her. I accept her how she is and myself as I am. - Alexzander R.

My grandfather had a heart attack. This made life change for my mom because she lost her dad. My mom has to live without a dad. Her family had to work hard. - Jennifer B.

Brooklyn Public Library Family Portraits

We asked the 5th grade students from P.S. 3 in Brooklyn to interview a family member about a life-changing experience that she or he had. Questions included:

Describe an experience your subject had that was life changing.

Why was it life changing?

Do the experiences of your subject change how you view him/her or yourself? Why or why not?

Click through the gallery to view portraits the students created of their family members and the photos they worked from. Answers to the interview questions are in the captions.