Luke Bartolo ’27
EE Staff Writer
Over your years in the Trumbull Public Schools, you have most likely learned about setting a positive mindset and persevering. To some, this may sound redundant, but in reality, this is something that is extremely useful in life, and I can tell you this from a personal experience.
Since I was about three years old, I have dreamed of being a television talk show host. One night, I went to PaleyFest NY, a week-long convention where television hosts share their stories, and I saw Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos from Live with Kelly and Mark.
I have always looked up to Live and couldn’t wait to attend. I attended the interview portion, as my family couldn’t afford the $1,000 meet-and-greet experience. I was devastated that I couldn’t ask my idols for advice. On the train ride home, I contacted Kelly Ripa via social media. I told her my story, and she wanted to schedule a video call to give me advice.
We spoke for about an hour, and she wanted to invite me backstage at the show. It was a phenomenal experience, as I got to see the show from a brand new perspective and converse with Kelly and Mark in-person. This experience was an eye-opener for me, as I learned so much about the industry. It was like a hands-on education for me. This experience and the advice that Kelly gave me helped me build more confidence that I will definitely succeed as a talk show host if I try hard.
I got to this position by setting a positive mindset and persevering. When Kelly first told me that her team would reach out the next day, she got so busy that she forgot to let them know. I was persistent and messaged her once or twice per week for about three weeks until I got the Zoom meeting scheduled. Icons have such busy calendars that it is hard to remember who to get back to. From their perspective, it can be overwhelming to have a busy schedule, but they set a positive mindset and get through it.
In this world, positive mindsets and persistence are two of the most important things to succeed in life. Even if you want to purchase a new cell phone, for example, and you can’t afford it, you must have a positive mindset and work hard towards your goal.
Great article, Luke!
What a wonderful experience! Kelly and Mark are fabulous people and great role models. Great article.