Whiz Kid: Preschooler Cariss Pettigrew Talks About What Makes Her Special

Four-year-old Cariss Pettigrew is a whiz at being 4 — and with helping her mom at fundraisers for the Brandon chapter of the All Children’s Hospital Guild, which meets monthly at the r in Brandon.

On Feb. 26, the guild, under the leadership of co-presidents Janine Pettigrew and Leslie Mazen, held a at The Bridges in Riverivew, where Cariss took time out to tell us what makes her a whiz at being helpful.

Brandon Patch: You’re a whiz at being good. What does it mean to be “good?”

• Cariss: Good is when you don’t just be mad at people.

Brandon Patch: What else?

• Cariss: My gerbils are good, but one of them died and that’s not good.  

Brandon Patch: Anything else?

• Cariss: When you’re at a place that is beautiful and you say, ‘Oooh! This is good. I want to go back here one day.’ "

Brandon Patch: Where do you go to school?

• Cariss: St. Andrews.

Brandon Patch: What is your favorite thing to learn?

• Cariss: To learn the swings, because they’re learning swings. They help you learn something. (Editor’s Note: Cariss’ mother said her daughter recently learned how to swing higher by “pumping.")

Brandon Patch: What do you want to be when you grow up?

• Cariss: A singer, because I sing really good.

Brandon Patch: Whose your favorite singer?

• Cariss: Lady GaGa.

Brandon Patch: What’s your favorite song?

• Cariss: “Poker Face.”

Brandon Patch: If you couldn’t be a singer, what would you want to do?

• Cariss: Gymnastics.

Brandon Patch: What makes you special?

• Cariss: My hair’s special, and everyone’s special, which makes me special.