Emotional viral video shows KDKA-TV meteorologist interviewing his daughter on the first day of school every year
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – KDKA First Alert meteorologist Ray Petelin has filmed his daughter Elizabeth on her first day of school every year since kindergarten, and the heartwarming final product has gone viral.
“I interviewed my daughter on her first day of school since kindergarten. Today was the last time I did this interview. Good luck in your senior year, Elizabeth!” Ray wrote on Facebook.
In the video, viewers can see how Elizabeth grows up in the blink of an eye.
“I originally wanted to interview her in kindergarten so she could see what she was like as a future kindergarten student. I decided to do a second interview the next year and it became a tradition,” Ray said.
The video begins with Ray asking Elizabeth to spell her name for the record, jumping back and forth between Elizabeth in senior year and Elizabeth in kindergarten.
Ray then asks Elizabeth what she wants to be when she grows up, and her answers range from doctor to teacher to magician to heart surgeon before finally landing on physiotherapist or nurse.
“Looking back, I can see that she was thinking primarily about career choices that involved helping people. She was always one of the ‘helpers’ that Mr. Rogers told us about. I’m thankful she never lost that!” said Ray.
Every year, Ray tells Elizabeth that her parents love her “very much” and are proud of her.
“Are you going to cry?” asks Elizabeth, who is in her senior year. “No,” says Ray and they both laugh.
The video ends with Elizabeth’s response from kindergarten: “Love you too. Is the school bus here now?”
As of Tuesday evening, the video had been viewed over 33 million times on TikTok, 11 million times on X and 3 million times on Facebook. Ray says he’s surprised by the response it’s received.
“Since Elizabeth spent part of her childhood helping me with our Hey Ray! science segment, I thought people in Pittsburgh would find this cute and interesting. I guess it’s generated a lot more response,” Ray said. “As it’s spread around the world, I’m glad people have found a connection to my family and been able to watch my daughter grow into the wonderful young woman she is.”
His advice for young parents is not to take a moment for granted.
“These people have probably heard this a million times, but time goes by very quickly, so don’t waste a single moment because when it’s all said and done, you’ll look back and think, ‘Wow, how did this happen so quickly? Yesterday you were a kindergartener and now you’re a young woman,'” Petelin told CBS Mornings.
