By Lennon | Age 12
Hi! My name is Lennon and I’m 12 years old. I live in California and on Monday, May 7, my sister, Colette (10) and I flew to Washington DC to visit the White House as reporters for KidScoop Media.
The First Lady, Melania Trump, unveiled her cause, which is the “Be Best” campaign. The mission of Mrs. Trump’s campaign is for children to be their best. Mrs. Trump plans to achieve this by teaching young people about the importance of social, emotional and physical health.
The “Be Best” campaign will concentrate on three main ideas: well being, social media and opioid abuse. I believe that Mrs. Trump made an important choice due to the fact that epidemics like opioid addiction are ruining so many lives today.
After listening to Mrs. Trump’s speech and speaking to her guests, I firmly believe that Mrs. Trump will create a significant positive difference for American youth, similarly to Mrs. Reagan and the successful DARE campaign of the 1980s.
Upon entering the White House, security took longer than I expected. You don’t just walk in. It takes time, people. As we were waiting to get in, I remember thinking that it’s pretty crazy that after 226 years, the paint is still so white. When I mentioned this to my mom, she told me to be please be quiet. Then, she explained that they had re-painted the White House many times. I realized that I was probably pretty tired, due to it being my first “red-eye” flight from Los Angeles to D.C.
When we were finally admitted, there were many paintings and other pieces of art, ranging from sculptures to intricately woven carpets. The kind of furnishings that our parents would say we are not allowed to drink soda and eat popcorn around, like we are allowed to in some parts of our house.
Around every corner there were armed secret service men. I have never seen a man walking in front of a building with a loaded machine gun in his hand before. That was pretty awesome! We were not allowed to hang out and check things out on our own. The Secret Service was everywhere, and if we were a little out of step from our escorts, they made sure we kept up the pace. They really have to pay attention every moment. While we were walking to the Press Room, I was able to see many news reporters, on live television, from in front of the White House. That was really cool.
We walked into the Press Room and I could immediately feel a shift. I was barely able to hear myself think over the clicking of the reporters’ keyboards and the photographers’ cameras. It was loud and very distracting.
Prior to my White House visit, I don’t believe I could have even imagined how difficult it is to be a reporter. You only get one side of a tiny area to broadcast live, and you have to ignore all of the other reporters typing, the photographers taking pictures and the reporter a couple feet away from you, who is also speaking about their own story.
While in the Press Room at the White House, my sister and I were interviewed by a member of the Korean media, too. We were asked about North and South Korean relations. I was surprised because I wasn’t expecting to talk about that. I’m really glad that I was prepared and had something to say. It was a live broadcast and it would have been terrible to draw a blank.
While at the White House Rose Garden, my sister and I interviewed many people. For example, I was introduced to Margaret Hostetter, the chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Ms. Hostetter said that she believed that any First Lady who thinks children are the future, means that they are on her side. When asked about the favorite part of her job, Ms. Hostetter shared that it’s really about listening to what kids have to say.
I also met Fox News reporter Katie Pavlich. When asked about the favorite part of her job, Ms. Pavlich said that she couldn’t choose the best part of her job due to the fact that she loved it so much. As the event was held in the Kennedy Rose Garden, I asked Ms. Pavlich about her favorite flower. She shared that they are the hydrangea and peony.
I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing people in the Press Room, including Katie Pavlich, since they did not treat me like a little kid who didn’t know what I was doing but like any other adult in the room. It was refreshing to be treated like an adult, or sort of like an adult.
Mrs. Trump graciously arranged for my sister and I to be seated in the front row of all of the press and we really appreciate her doing so. We had an excellent view of what was happening. All of the cameramen for different news channels looked like they all had radios in their ears. They were all facing the podium but then all turned toward a different door in unison, as if they were being informed that the First Lady was entering the garden. The cameraman were also very committed to getting a good shot which meant they had to push me out of their way to get to the front. I didn’t take it very personally since they are just trying to do their jobs and I happened to be in their way at that certain moment.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time at the White House and hope to be invited back someday soon. It was surreal to be in a place that I’ve seen on television and in movies for so many years.
I believe that the First Lady did a fantastic job and is promoting a good cause. I will do what I can to support her “Be Best” campaign in the months and years to come. No matter what your personal politics may be, helping children is a good thing. In our home, we are encouraged to carefully consider facts and make our own decisions about everything, from religion to politics.
People may agree or disagree with the president and his ideas. (Adults seem to be very consumed, fighting about political things these days.) With that, the First Lady is her own person and is doing good for children. As the eldest boy in the family with three siblings, I’m on board to “be best.” If not just for me, I want to make sure my sister and two very younger brothers, know that they are all good.
‘Be Best’
By Colette | Age 10
My name is Colette and I am 10 years old. I am reporting for KidScoop Media. I flew to Washington DC to go to the White House to attend “Be Best,” a campaign to address the major issues facing children today, created by First Lady Melania Trump. Mrs. Trump’s goal is for children to “Be Best” in their own lives.
Walking into the White House was an amazing experience. First, we had to walk up to a big black gate and tell the security guards who we are and then we waited. Finally, after a lot of checking and questions and more checking and more questions, we walked into the White House. On the way in, we passed gardens, the White House kitchen and a really long hallway that was filled with flowers, paintings, art and a bright, very pretty, red carpet.
Next, we went into the White House Press Room and saw so many TV reporters! Some of them were from Fox News, CNN and all of the television networks. I recognized the reporters from TV but I didn’t know their names. The Press Room turned out to be very small (it looks a lot bigger on the news). There was a large stage and most of the female reporters were wearing really brightly colored dresses—bright pink, turquoise and bright yellow. I learned that once they are on TV, the colors don’t look as bright. Also, their makeup, which looks really weird and heavy, almost like for Halloween, looks normal once they are on TV. And boy reporters wear makeup, too.
I interviewed reporter Katie Pavlich, who seemed pretty smart and was very pretty. She was not wearing the weird Halloween makeup like some of the other reporters. She just looked pretty in a normal way. I asked Ms. Pavlich about what was the favorite part about her job. She said that she has no favorite part of being a reporter because she loves so much about her job and that the whole day is neat! Maybe I should be a reporter so that my whole day is fun, like my birthday or when it’s an ice cream sundae day at school.
The First Lady’s party was in the Kennedy Rose garden and so I asked Ms. Pavlich about her favorite flower and she said that she really likes hydrangeas and peonies. That concluded my interview with Ms. Pavlich.
When my brother and I were in the Rose Garden at the White House, we also interviewed Margaret Hostetter. She was very smart and kind. She said that she is a doctor and that her favorite part about being a pediatrician is talking to children. I asked Dr. Hostetter about her favorite flower and she said peony, also. I guess peonies are really beautiful! Maybe I should grow some in our garden.
At the end of the White House Rose Garden party, we had cookies that were really good! My mom said that one day I’ll understand better that going to the White House is an honor. I do understand and that is why I was on my best behavior. I did not get in one argument with my brother—even when he took an extra cookie from the platter and did not share with me.
I hope one day I can go back to the White House Rose Garden and see the kitchen, too. The White House is really neat and Mrs. Trump is very pretty. And, I got to see the President of the United States! How cool is that? Mrs. Trump does a lot of good things for children. She has a pretty voice and she talked about wanting to make the world better for kids. I like the White House a lot … when you’re there, you don’t have to go to school, which makes being a reporter super fun!
The last thing I was thinking about when we were on the plane going home is that I don’t understand why grown-ups fight about the political stuff all the time. I think we have a great country. We are all Americans and should be on our best behavior and use good manners. We should not say mean things just because we don’t agree with each other. I have three brothers and I don’t agree with them but we don’t say mean things. Well, mostly we don’t say mean things. Grown-ups should try to be as good as kids. They should use their White House “Be Best” manners with each other. And, they should eat cookies. Even for breakfast!
The end.
