Ian Tevnan and Arnold Swarzenegger. Photo: Lorna Gold My mum works in the Laudato Si’ Movement and asked me if I would like to interview Arnold Schwarzenegger as TY work experience. I came up with questions, and my mum sent them off to Arnold’s team. Out of the many requests he received, I was lucky he chose my questions. Arnold Schwarzenegger was in Rome for the Raising Hope for Climate Justice Conference on October 1. At about 11.30am on September 30, myself and my Auntie Annie arrived at the Vatican Press Hall. When I entered the building, it was different to anything I have ever experienced before. There were people everywhere – many people wearing black suits, holding cameras – like the paparazzi getting prepared. We were brought into the room for the interview and they ‘mic-ed me up’ and I met his assistant.
There were two people waiting to interview him with me. We waited for around half an hour – I had a mix of nerves and excitement. Then Arnold was escorted into the room by what felt like ten giant bodyguards and assistants. The first thing he said when he got in the room was “I’ve been in Italy for two days and my suit already doesn’t fit.” From that, I could tell something of his personality! Before it was my turn to interview him, I was asked by one of the other interviewers to record her interview with Arnold.
She handed me a small camera stick, and I had to hold it steady whilst she interviewed him. For my interview, I asked “why did you come to Rome?” I picked this question because he is so popular and must be invited to many events. I was interested in knowing why he chose to come to this one. His answer in short was that he came to Rome to ‘terminate climate change’ with the help of Pope Leo. In his answer he described the magnitude of the Catholic Church – 1.4 billion people – and that if all Catholics came together climate change could be terminated. After the interview he asked me who I was and told me I could make a good journalist. He then gave me a piece of advice that will stay with me forever. He said: “I see people nowadays with their heads down, looking at their feet – I ask myself why. There is nothing down there, it is all up here. Keep your head up!” I took from that that I need to keep focused and not let other people bring me down.
Ian Tevnan is a 15 years old TY student from Maynooth Post-Primary School.