Kuster Interviewed by Student at Christa McAuliffe School in Concord

**Kuster said she hoped to see Harper and her classmates run for office someday**

Concord, N.H. — This week, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) sat down with Harper, a third-grade student at Christa McAuliffe School, for a candid, one-on-one interview for a class project. Harper and her classmates were assigned a prominent figure from Concord to write about. The two discussed Kuster’s childhood, her work in Congress, and their shared love for White Park.

An abbreviated transcript of the conversation is below. 

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Harper 

Do you like living in Concord?

Kuster 

Yes, I've lived there my whole life. I actually live now out in Hopkinton, where I raised my family, but I did grow up in Concord, and I went to your school.

Harper 

What are your favorite memories of living in Concord?

Kuster 

I have many, many fond memories growing up in Concord, and the place where we spent a lot of time was White Park. Have you ever been to White Park?

Harper 

Yes!

Kuster 

We'd go skating in the winter. And we play there at the playground in the summer. And we actually taught ski lessons in White Park, if you can believe it. I went to Dewey School first before I went to the school that was called Kimball School. That's now called Christa McAuliffe. And we would walk across the street from Dewey School. And my mother taught ski lessons in White Park, and I would help her.

Harper 

Did you have a favorite place to play with your friend when you were little?

Kuster 

Yes, we played four square and kickball in our neighborhood on Auburn Street.

Harper 

Why did you choose to stay in New Hampshire?

Kuster 

I love New Hampshire. And I wanted to move back there. I came to Washington, D.C., for my very first job after college and worked for a congressman. And then, I went to law school. And when I finished law school, I wanted to go home to practice law and raise my own family in New Hampshire. Partly because my parents were there, and I wanted to be close to them, and partly because it's such a beautiful place to live, and it was so much fun growing up there that I wanted my kids to get to grow up there too.

Harper 

What do you hope could be built in Concord?

Kuster 

Well, my mother was involved in building the Christa McAuliffe planetarium, which I think was really fun for Concord. And have you been there?

Harper 

Yeah!

Kuster 

So that was fun. And my father was involved in building the ice arena. I don't know if you've ever gone skating there at the ice arena where they play hockey. What else would be fun? Well, I liked the park, I liked the playgrounds at White Park and all the other playgrounds and the swimming pool. So I think those are fun. Maybe a ski hill with a ski lift would be fun so that kids could go skiing in Concord. That would be fun!

Harper 

My class is learning about the history of Concord, was your family always from Concord?

Kuster 

My father grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, and my mother grew up in Hanover, New Hampshire. But then they moved to Concord, and my family grew up there. So I'm the youngest of five children. And we all went to the public schools in Concord. Dewey School, Kimball School, which was the one that you're now at, and Rundlett Junior High School and Concord High School.

Harper 

What do you think is something my class should know about you?

Kuster 

Well, I went to your school, and I had great teachers there, and we learned a lot. And then, when I got older, I decided that I would run for Congress. And now I'm in Congress. And I think someday either you or some of your classmates might get involved in that, too. They might help other people by serving in the state legislature or maybe even running for Congress one day.

Harper 

Thank you!

Kuster 

I really appreciate it. I hope your classmates enjoy it, too!

Harper 

Thank you very much!

Kuster 

Absolutely, bye now!

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