Ask Ariella Dillman and Anderson Klus what makes a great day at Benton Grade School, and cheese pizza tops both of their lists without a moment of hesitation. The two five-year-olds are both new to kindergarten this year, in different classrooms with Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Nolen, and cross paths only occasionally at lunch, but they share plenty in common once you start asking questions.

Both girls count math among their favorite parts of the school day, and both are proud of a very specific new skill: counting all the way to one hundred. One of them has even been practicing riding her bike to one hundred, treating the number like a personal finish line. Numbers aside, the two agree on their favorite lunch as well: cheese pizza, no pepperoni needed, and they light up describing favorite fruits like strawberries, oranges, and blueberries, ideally topped with whipped cream or a little sugar.

Ariella recently moved to Benton settling into a new home, a move that brought her family closer to her dad's job. She has a big kindergarten-sized family to match, including a baby sister. Ariella is already looking ahead to her own future. "I want to be a doctor," she said, matter-of-fact about the goal. She used to have two cats growing up, Meow and Olaf, though both wandered off some time ago, so for now her pets live mostly in fond memory.

Anderson's home life looks almost nothing like a typical kindergarten household, and that is exactly what makes her story fun. Between the cows, horses, a donkey, a goat, two dogs, three cats, two rabbits, and a hamster, she rattles off without pausing for breath; animals clearly take up a lot of room both in her house and in her heart. Most of the bigger animals live together in what she calls the pole barn, while the smaller pets have their own favorite hiding spots, including one rabbit that occasionally escapes under a shed. When asked about her future, Anderson matched Ariella's ambition without missing a beat. "I want to be a doctor, too," she said, already just as certain of the plan.

Halloween has both girls thinking ahead as well. One is planning to dress as Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, while the other has her sights set on Violet from The Incredibles, with a little brother rounding out the family costume theme as Spider-Man. Christmas ranks as a shared favorite holiday too, mostly for the presents, though one admitted her favorite part might actually be the snow itself. Roller skates and, hopefully, a pony are both on this year's wish list, alongside plenty of hints dropped about Santa already being on notice.

Talking with either girl for even a few minutes makes clear how much personality kindergarten classrooms hold this year. One will happily point out a crack in the ceiling tile mid-conversation, curious about the wiring above it, while the other cannot resist mentioning her cousin, her animals, or her little brother at every turn. Both are quick to laugh, quicker to talk, and completely unbothered by strangers with recorders and cameras, chatting through questions about colors, favorite foods, and holidays with the same enthusiasm they clearly bring to a classroom.

Favorite colors round out the picture nicely. Purple and pink mixed together earns high marks from one, while the other has settled firmly on indigo, a color she describes with real confidence as a mix of purple and violet. Small details like that capture what makes these two kindergartners so much fun to know this early in the school year, opinions formed, friendships forming, and plenty of curiosity still ahead of them.

For Ariella Dillman and Anderson Klus, kindergarten is just the beginning. They've already decided where they're headed. Two future doctors are getting their start at Benton Grade School.