Every Student Has a Story: Sydney Comitz
Joey Hoff, Managing Editor
March 27, 2010
Filed under Every Student Has a Story, Lifestyle
Every two weeks, “The Patriot” will randomly pick a student from the directory, find out more about his or her life, and prove that every student has a story.
The Jonas Brothers met her. The Wiggles sang for her. Muhammad Ali kissed her. It has to be junior Sydney Comitz.
“My dad has always gotten us involved in different activities because he wants us to have a well-rounded point of view,” Comitz said.
One of those unique experiences is her yearly attendance at the White House Easter Egg Roll. The event is a culmination of activities and performances for young people, organized by the First Lady.
Under the Bush administration, the Comitz family had to camp outside of the White House in the snow and sleet to get tickets.
When the Obamas moved into the White House, tickets to the event were no longer based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Last year, the tickets were randomly given out online, which made it harder for Comitz to get into the event.
However, Comitz was able to attend as a volunteer last year. While there, she met the Jonas Brothers, Jack Hannah, Buzz Aldron, Aly and AJ, the Wiggles, and Hannah Montana.
But Comitz’s celebrity encounters are not limited to the White House Easter Egg Roll. At five years old, she met Muhammad Ali while at a Kentucky convention.
Upon discovering that the line to meet Ali was out the doors of the convention, Comitz’s father took her to the back of the convention center to get closer to the boxer.
“I was an outgoing kid, so I just butted in front of some guy in line [when we got inside],” Comitz said. That man she cut in front of happened to be a Kentucky senator.
Then, Comitz walked up to Ali, and he reached out to her, giving her a hug and kiss. The scene was a perfect shot for the group of reporters and photographers surrounding Ali.
“The senator thought that [my father and I] were personal friends of Ali. He thought I was famous.” Comitz said.
Comitz admits that her life is full of a wide variety of experiences. She said, “You never know if you don’t try. You could end up meeting someone famous.”
Joey Hoff can be reached for comment at jhoff@jcpatriot.com.