Not Your Average Day
By Dawson Hebert
CMS, Grade 8
So, some kids go to school on February 26th, like any other day, but not me. I have on dress shirts, shoes, and a tie. Why do I have all of these clothes on, maybe it’s because I’m about to do something that is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m about to ask Senator Collins a question that was made up by a student at CMS. In my opinion, that’s pretty impressive to add to your résumé.
How did this come about you ask? Well before a class period the teachers gave us a piece of paper and they asked us to write a question you would have if you met Senator Collins. Some people wrote very foolish ones and some were about bipartiship and agriculture, very appropriate topics that the Gifted and Talented group went through every single on of the questions and narrowed it down to 9 questions that we would like Senator Collins to give us an answer or an explanation. Then we heard that we were going to Skype Senator Collins, for me, I was ecstatic.
Then I heard that I could ask her the questions and actually interact with her, I was sold on doing it.
There was a panel of eight, eight lucky people that have an exciting and nerve-racking job to do. I don’t just have to ask this question of the Senator, I have to say it in front of the ENTIRE school, my fellow peers and all the teachers have their undivided attention on me, one mistake and I’ll freeze, isn’t that embarrassing.
Even after memorizing my question, having the paper with
my question on it in front of me, practicing with the group for a solid half an hour, I am still nervous. I feel like I’m about the play a basketball game with all the butterflies I feel, the section
of students that fill in behind me doesn’t help either.
Now it’s time, a minor technological problem but was sorted out quickly, and when I saw the happy face and voice of Senator Collins my fears and anxiousness went down the drain, I don’t know why I was so nervous, she was so, so happy to talk to us and that made me feel good, relaxed.
When it was my time I took a deep breath, looked over my question, and said it. After it was over I was still sweating in my hand and on the mic, but everyone was. In my opinion it was the worst I’ve ever said the question but all of my teachers told me what a good job I did and that made me feel good.
This experience all around has been positive, and exciting. I hope, I can do this again.
Skyping with Senator Collins
By Noah Hixon
CMS, Grade 7
On February 25, Caribou Middle School had the amazing opportunity to Skype with Senator Susan Collins. It was especially extraordinary because Senator Collins once walked the same halls every student in CMS walks down each day. It was very kind of Senator Collins to take time out of her very busy life as a Senator to answer several questions that the student body came up with.
A few days before Senator Collins Skyped with our school, our ELA teacher had every student write down a question for Senator Collins. A handful of students narrowed the questions down to nine that we thought were suitable to ask a senator. Some of these students had the opportunity to ask the senator a question.
The question I had for Senator Collins was, “How do you feel about a Republican in a state that has a high percentage of Democratic voters and how has this impacted you?”
Asking a question to a person of such importance was a bit nerve-racking, especially since I have a bad habit of talking so fast you can not understand a single word I say. The biggest thing I was worried about was that Senator Collins would not hear my question and I would have to repeat it.
Senator Collins understood my question and had a very intelligent and insightful answer. She told us that even though Maine has a high percentage of Democratic voters, it has a higher percentage of Independent voters. Independent voters do not look at if the candidate is a Republican or a Democrat, but if their reason for running for office will benefit society. She said if she could win over the Independents she could probably win the race.
Meeting Senator Collins via Skype was an incredible experience that I hope I will have the pleasure of doing again. I think meeting Senator Collins will influence many Caribou Middle Schoolers into becoming concerned citizens and even possibly pursuing a political career.
Senator Collins interview was a pleasant experience
By Kyleigh DeMerchant
CMS, Grade 8
Last Tuesday at around 10:15 a.m. Caribou Middle School had the opportunity to Skype with United States Senator Susan Collins.
In our English Language Arts classes we gathered potential questions that we would like to ask our senator. Then the Gifted and Talented students sat down and picked the nine questions that we thought were the best. I personally had the privilege of being able to read one of these questions to her.
The question I asked was about whether or not she had special ties to health care or diabetes that inspired her to work hard to help the people involved in either issue. In response she told us a story about meeting a young boy in Portland, who was diabetic.
This boy told her that he would do anything to have one day off from diabetes. She basically said that, this boy made her realize how hard life can be with diabetes and she wanted to help.
I was glad that I got to ask this question because type II diabetes is in my genes. Both my grandfather and my aunt have diabetes and my mother is borderline diabetic. It was cool for me to see a politician so interested in a topic that hits so close to home for me. Which is why I found this such a pleasant experienc
My experience with Sen. Collins
By Alya Theriault
CMS, Grade 6
When I was told that the whole school was going to Skype with Senator Collins, I thought it was really cool. My excitement grew when the news came that the school had selected me to be on the panel that would be asking her a question. I was very proud that the school thought of me to ask her a question, out of all the kids in the school.
When I walked into the cafeteria I saw two long tables sitting in front of a screen with a camera that Senator Collins would be seeing us through. This made me really nervous thinking that I may mess up my question. However, we started practicing our questions with the microphone and some of my nerves went away, but only for short time. After practice, we went back to our classes but after what only seemed like seconds, the office soon called us back to the cafeteria for the assembly.
Then it all began. When we started the session all the students asking the questions were very nervous. I tried to hold my nerves in but when it got closer to my turn to ask Senator Collins the question I was assigned, my heart seemed to beat faster and faster. Then it was finally my turn.
I took the microphone and then began like this “Hi my name is Alya Theriault and I am in the sixth grade. Do you feel our State government equally values the role of a female legislator?”
Senator Collins’ answer was very detailed and interesting. The most memorable part of her answer came when Senator Collins described the time she was running for governor against now Angus King, and he told her that he agreed with everything she was saying, but he couldn’t imagine a woman being the governor. That stunned me and my nerves went away.
After everyone was done asking their questions and after she had left the Skype, I suddenly realized that no matter how nervous I was, I made it through it. I felt very proud of myself for being brave enough to be on the panel that asked Senator Collins a question. I also felt a sense of pride for Senator Collins who has overcome her own issues that all led to her becoming an amazing United States Senator.
