What I learned during career day with students in Wilmington, North Carolina

Twenty-five eight-year-olds put the documents they were working on into folders and arranged them on their desks. Then everyone turned and looked at me.

I admit I was a little nervous. I’m used to crowds of adults, and after three years as a high school English teacher, I can handle anything teenagers can come up with. But little kids… my experience is limited to being the mother of one son.

Sure, I can handle “Have you done your homework” or “This is how you brush your teeth” or – my favorite – “I’ve told you 500 times not to swing the curtains because you’re not a contestant on Wipeout.”

I wasn’t really sure what I could tell them about being a journalist. Although I followed the instructions given to me by the volunteer coordinator at Mary C. Williams Elementary School, I never spoke to the elementary students about my work. Would they understand? Would they have questions for me?

I soon learned that the answer to both of these questions was yes. Here’s what 8-year-olds wanted to know most and how I responded.

Kids: “Can I watch you on TV?”

I: “NO. We produce articles for the news website and print newspaper. We take photos and videos that appear on our website and on our social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.”

Kids: “Do you write stories like the ones in the library?”

I: “Even though we don’t write fiction like novels, we do write nonfiction. Instead of books, our stories appear in newspapers and on websites, and most local libraries have copies of our newspaper there.”

Kids: “Have you ever interviewed Travis Kelce?”

I: “Umm no. But I would like to. I would like to ask him what it was like to play in the Super Bowl in front of millions of people.”

Kids: “Have you ever interviewed Taylor Swift?”

I: “So no. But I would. If I did, I would ask her about songwriting and what it’s like to travel the world and perform in front of thousands of people night after night.”

Kids: “Do you think you could interview Travis Kelce or Taylor Swift?”

I: “If they are ever in town, I can promise my friends and I will definitely try. Will you let us know if they come to town?

Kids: “But shouldn’t you tell us when they’re in town?”

I: “Umm…yes. You’re right, and I promise I will if they’re ever in Wilmington.

More:Renee Spencer: Becoming Brunswick’s “Gladys Kravitz.”

The kids also wanted to know how we come up with stories and as I talked about some of my favorite stories I’ve created over the years – including seeing how waffle cones and ice cream are made at Calabash Creamery and taking a ride from Cape Fear Pilots Set Out to Meet a Big Ship — they wanted to know what flavor of ice cream is my favorite, where I like to buy ice cream in Wilmington, and what’s on the big cargo ships that call at the Port of Wilmington. There were certainly no future journalists in the room that day.

During the morning I also had the opportunity to ask the students a few questions. Here’s what I asked and how they answered.

I: “Have any of you ever heard of Facebook or Twitter?”

Kids: (Almost every student in all three classes raised their hands.)

I: “Who likes reading?”

Kids: Many people said they enjoyed reading.

I: When I was talking about research and investigative reporting, I asked, “Do any of you like to research and find out things before anyone else?”

Several hands shot up and most of the students nodded emphatically. One of the students raised her hand and said, “My mom does. He always walks around asking what people are doing.

Overall, the experience was very nice and I hope to do it again next year. I learned two important things: first, children today are able to understand and absorb more information than you did at their age, thanks to advances in technology and the dedicated teachers in our local schools, and second, children will tell you about you in a heartbeat. (Don’t worry, Mom. I also like walking around and asking questions. Your secret is safe with me.)