We love when our Scholastic Kid Reporters—old and new—are able to find time to come visit our Scholastic headquaters in New York City!
During her winter break, former Kid Reporter and current Princeton University student Ainsley Felter was in the office to intern with our Scholastic Classroom Magazines team. While she was here, she took time to talk with us about her time as a Kid Reporter. Check out her Q&A below!
What is your favorite memory from your time as a Kid Reporter?
As a Kid Reporter, I was able to meet many incredible people and discover interesting stories. My favorite memory, though, is when I visited the White House in 2014 to interview President Obama about his ConnectEd initiative. Meeting a president had always been a goal of mine, so I was very lucky to achieve it at such a young age.
What is something you learned while covering a story?
While covering this story, I learned a lot about the ways in which the government aims to improve public education, specifically through technology. I found this interesting because I had attended public schools and become familiar with the limited technological resources available. Being at the White House also allowed me to gain insight into the world of politics and government affairs, which I intend to continue studying.
What advice would you give to current and future Kid Reporters?
Take advantage of every opportunity that the program offers, and remember that people are people. After interviewing President Obama, I was interviewed on TV and radio, which allowed me to become more confident in my abilities as a speaker and to understand how incredible the Kid Reporter opportunities are. In your role, you are able to meet many influential people. This can be quite intimidating, so I found it important to understand that everyone is human. When you're relaxed, it’s much easier to have an interesting conversation with whomever you interview, and it becomes a lot more fun!
Learn more about our Scholastic Kids Press program at scholastic.com/kidspress
Ainsley, left, at the White House with President Obama in 2014. Photo: Pete Souza
