University of Pittsburgh at Bradford President Dr. Livingston
Alexander greeted moviegoers of all ages Saturday to a showing of
“Little Prince” as part of the ongoing Free Family Film Fest at the
Bradford Main Street Moviehouse.
Alexander spoke with the guests about his childhood and how he
struggled to learn English. But through hard work, he was the
valedictorian of his high school.
He told the children to watch for people in their lives, special
people, that are there to help them. And if they don’t watch for
them, they might miss out.
Children from area schools presented Alexander with essays
written about what they will be able to do if they go to college
when they grow up. More than 200 essays were submitted.
Jeanie Satterwhite said “this program is very empowering to the
children, to see how the town works and what the people do – that
people really do care. It helps to paint a picture of
possibility.”
Some of the children wrote about being astronauts and doctors,
while others wanted to be pastors and missionaries. A few children
wanted to be teachers and several wrote that they want to help
other people.
One student from the Bradford Area Christian Academy wrote “I
have wanted to be a teacher since I was eight-years-old. When I was
little, I used to set up my stuffed animals and play teacher with
them.”
She even knows which college she plans to attend and offers the
following thoughtful advice to others trying to choose a path:
“It’s tough to decide, but just follow your dreams and your
heart.”
Much can be said about the caliber of these young prospective
college students. Elementary students are already thinking about
what college will do for them and what they will get out of going,
even at such young ages.
A student at George G. Blaisdell Elementary School wrote,
“College will help you understand your job more clearly. Plus
college teaches you everything you need to know about that
job.”
Another student at GGB understands already that wanting to join
the military and become an officer will require him to go to
college. This elementary student wrote, “I probably will start off
as a private and work my way up to be an officer, because college
will help me get the degree for it.”
A student from The Learning Center wrote of several occupations
he would like to try. Some of them, though, he crossed off his list
with reasons of too much work or having to talk a lot. He claims
not to be aiming for a job as a comedian, but from his essay, this
student is good at being funny.
“Some people say I could be a comedian, but I’m not aiming for
that. I don’t want to be a teacher, blah, who needs them. Sometimes
I wish I could be a camp counselor,” he wrote.
The Film Fest, sponsored by Dick and Sarah Dorn, will wrap up
its five movie series this Saturday with the showing of “Spy Kids,”
an action movie.
Karen Buchheit, president of the Bradford Creative and
Performing Arts Center, will greet children this Saturday and talk
to them about Art in Education.
