Student Reporter at the 2018 NFL Draft

My experience at the 2018 NFL Draft was amazing! Having the opportunity to be the NFL/Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Reporter was such an awesome experience.

Leading up to NFL Draft week I was interviewed on live TV by a local station and had a different TV crew come to my school campus to interview me as a feature story as well (they also did a follow-up after the Draft finished up on Saturday)!

On Tuesday of Draft week I got to hang out with elementary school kids from the Dallas area and go through some fun drills outside on the Dannon Play Football Field, along with speaking to the kids on stage about my experience with Fuel Up to Play 60. On Wednesday I was allotted the opportunity to interact (even more so than on Tuesday) with students from junior high schools in the Dallas area. In addition to talking to the kids and running through drills with them, I was also able to interview the Draft prospects that we invited to participate in the activities. It was super cool seeing the Draft prospects and the kids interacting. I also was able to be part of the media meet and greet and interview the players as a reporter. I loved asking them questions about their college careers, how they fuel up , what their thoughts were leading up to Draft Night and even if they’d show me what they thought their first touchdown dance celebration would look like.

Thursday night was a big night for me. I was interviewing the prospects on the NFL Draft RED CARPET and got to hang out with Juju Smith Schuster! I was so nervous at first, but as the night went on I got a lot more confident. Meeting and interacting with all the players was so so so cool! We spent quite some time on the red carpet and spoke to a ton of different people from player prospects to college coaches, professional players and more!

Later in the night I was able to watch some of the Draft from the stands before moving backstage to the interview room. The room was full of media from around the country and ME! We got to ask the newly welcomed NFL players questions right after they were drafted! I loved asking them questions as a reporter and hearing their responses. I did my research on each player and tried to ask them questions that were pertinent to them individually. I hope they appreciated that.

Finally, my last day at the Draft was Saturday. On this day I got to announce the Seventh Round pick number 236! As luck would have it I got to announce it for my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys! This was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity! Getting ready to go on stage in front of thousands of people and on national television was a little nerve wracking, but once I got to the podium all the jitters went away. Hearing the fans go crazy at my announcement was something I’ll never forget.

This opportunity was absolutely one of the best things I have ever done! If I ever have the offer to do something like this again I would jump at the chance!

Thank you so much Dairy MAX, Fuel Up to Play 60 and the NFL for this amazing opportunity. I am beyond thankful.

Trinity
Youth Council Leader
Texas
10^th Grade