Dad Does Amazing Thing On The First Day of School For 13 Years
If you need a good cry or just love a heartwarming story, let me introduce you to Ray Petelin, a Pittsburgh weatherman with a knack for creating memories.
For the past 13 years, Ray has interviewed his daughter, Elizabeth, on every first day of school.
It all started when she was just five years old, waiting for the bus on her first day of kindergarten.
Ray decided to ask her a simple question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Little did he know, this question would turn into an annual tradition, capturing the evolution of Elizabeth’s dreams. In 2012, she wanted to be a doctor. But as the years went by, her answers changed—sometimes dramatically! From a teacher to a magician, a waitress to a heart surgeon, and finally, a physical therapist. Yes, magician was in there, but even Ray knew that phase wouldn’t last long.
Now, Elizabeth is a high school senior, and Ray just wrapped up their final first-day interview. It’s a bittersweet moment for the 47-year-old meteorologist, who admits he had to put the final video together late at night to avoid any witnesses to his tears. “I was just bawling the whole time,” he confessed. “It still feels like that first interview was just yesterday.”
Ray shared the compilation video online, and it quickly went viral, racking up over 50 million views on Facebook and Twitter/X. It even caught the attention of major TV networks, landing Ray on multiple shows, including his own station, KDKA-TV.
The response has been overwhelming. Parents from all over the world have flooded Ray with supportive comments, many dubbing him “Dad of the Year.”
You have to admit, this is First Day of School Dedication.
And it seems Ray’s idea has sparked a trend—parents everywhere are now starting their own first day of school interviews with their kids.
Ray may be done with these yearly interviews, but he’s not finished documenting his daughter’s milestones. He’s already planning the next video when she moves into her own place. Because once a dad, always a dad.
