What I've Learned: Hunter Clemons age 11

[Amelia]

What I've Learned: Hunter Clemons

Fifth grader, 11, Apex, North Carolina

Interviewed by Cal Fussman

July 2006, Esquire.com

This is kind of cool. No kid I know has done this.

If I were president, I'd stop racism. I'd stop terrorism. And I'd have our scientists develop a car that runs off air.

I mean, they say our scientists are so smart. I think it's stupid that we cannot make a car that runs on something other than oil. Science can solve our problems. We just have to think of the possibilities.

We've had classes about going through puberty. Most of the time, the boys and the girls are together. But we were separated for the movies. The boys watch the boys' movie and the girls watch the girls'. Then they switch movies so that each gender knows what the other gender is going through. You used to get the puberty class in seventh grade, but they moved it down, and they're moving it lower and lower. I don't think they should move it any lower than it is now. You have to be pretty mature to look at that stuff, otherwise you laugh and giggle. And I know, because I did. So I must not be too mature.

Being mature allows you to say certain things and not fall on the ground laughing.

Between president and football star? I'd probably be a football star. It's something you love doing, and you'd get paid millions for it. That's just amazing. And nobody stands outside your house with signs and screams: “You stink! You stink!”

Teachers aren't allowed to state political opinions. They're not supposed to influence the way we'd vote. They don't like it when we start arguing on our own. But it's there. It's there. I'm for Bush. There are kids who actually think it was Bush's fault that the World Trade Center came down. A couple of them even say that Bush knew the towers were going to get hit and didn't do any¬thing about it. There have been some huge arguments.

Once a teacher tried to force me to do something I didn't want to do and then walked away. I got angry, and the teacher turned around just as I was doing a movement that showed I was angry. You never think they're gonna turn around just at that moment.

Once you master a video game, it's worthless.

I'm in debt to my parents, money-wise. I'll always be. They pay so much for everything I do. The baseball league I play for in West Raleigh—it cost something like $300. There's clothes and food. You have to love them for everything they do. You will always be in debt to them, whether it's clothes, money, or even stuff like love.

A lot of money is $100,000. If I had it, I'd try to get more.

My biggest fear is having a storm hit my house and having my family die.

Courage is being able to stand up to your true fears.

God is hard to explain. But really, he's your ultimate father. My dad is my father, but God is my true father.

When you look at it like that, everyone in the world is my brother. It's weird how everyone relates in the world. We go to war with our brothers and sisters. Ever think about that?

My dad had an offer to go to the minor leagues. But the problem was his dad was in the hospital. So he had to make a choice, and he stayed with his dad. If I had the same choice, I'd do just what my dad did. We're talking about a loved one. And you can be with them for their last few breaths. Whooooo. I'd hate to have somebody call me and say: “Hunter, your father's died.” It's painful to be there and watch. But at the same time, you've done all you could to be there for that last breath.

Shaq is a role model. I've never seen him be negative. He'll buy truckloads of toys and give them out to kids. You want these? Merry Christmas! I don't think he's Santa Claus. But I think he cares about the world.

There are people who change the world for the better. There are people who change the world for the worse. And there are people who don't change the world at all. Everyone has a chance.

I have noticed one thing about puberty: The girls are starting to get taller. It's hard to be the Shaquille O'Neal of your grade and be shorter than a girl. There's this one girl who's taller than me. She must be the female Yao Ming.

No brussels sprouts. But one day, that might change.

[Neil D]

Cute! <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/monkey.gif" alt="" />