Photos by Ray Petelin
A dad who interviewed his daughter on the first day of school every year has now shared the final video, as she starts her final year of high school before heading off to college.
Ray Petelin came up with the idea to ask his little girl, Elizabeth, a series of questions at the start of each new school year to see how their daughter’s ambitions would change as she grows.
In 2012, while Elizabeth waited for the bus to take her to kindergarten at five-years-old, Ray sat her down and asked what she wanted to be when she grows up.
In the new compilation video, the little girl’s answer evolves over the years from doctor to teacher, magician to waitress, and from heart surgeon to physical therapist.
“She did say magician one year, but I knew that wasn’t going to last.”
Now, after the bittersweet moment of finishing their thirteenth interview, the 47-year-old TV meteorologist shared the the final video.
“I put this together late at night so no one would be around,” Ray admitted. “Because I was just bawling the whole time.”
Ray Petelin’s daughter through the years
“I looked back at the first video, and it still feels like it was yesterday.
“I wanted to show her (the video) when she is a senior—and as she is now a senior, this will be the last one—but I will certainly get one when she moves into her own place.”
Ray’s video below, was posted on Facebook and Twitter/X where it tallied over 50 million views and led to multiple TV interviews broadcast on major networks and on his own station, KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.
He’s also received many supportive comments from people all over the world, especially moms and dads.
“Parents have commented on the video saying that I should be ‘Dad of the Year’.”The idea has also inspired many parents to start doing same thing with their own school children. Dad Interviews Daughter on First Day of School Every Year–And the Final Video Has Gone Viral (Watch)
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