I’m a Kid Reporter!

Dust storms. Endangered sea creatures. Super-tall skyscrapers. These are just a few of the topics I’ve written about during my three years as a Scholastic Kid Reporter. 

My favorite assignment so far has been covering the FINA World Aquatics Championships in 2019. Swimming is one of my favorite hobbies, so it was fun to see some of the world’s top swimmers in action. 

The event was held in Gwangju, South Korea. That might seem like a huge trip, but I didn’t have to travel very far. I live in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. My family moved here from New Jersey three years ago. 

The move was tough at first. I missed my friends in the U.S. And at the time, I wasn’t as fluent in Korean as I am now, so it was hard to understand what was going on at school.

I still miss the U.S., but I really love living in Seoul. As a Kid Reporter, I’ve gotten to know the city by traveling around to report on different events. 

When I have an article idea, I pitch it to my editor at Scholastic in the U.S. Once I get the thumbs-up, my work begins. That includes research and interviews with experts. When possible, I visit the place I’m reporting on. 

Then I start writing. It can take a few drafts to get the article right, but when I’m done, I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

I don’t know what my next assignment will be. But if I could interview anyone, I’d choose a scientist who helped develop one of the Covid-19 vaccines. I’d love to talk to someone who helped save the world.

Do you want to be a Kid Reporter? If so, here’s some advice. Be curious and always look for good stories. And stay informed by reading news articles. Maybe I’ll see you on the team next year!