The day after Woolwich Central School held mock elections, they had a special Halloween visitor, U.S. Senator Susan Collins. 

The school was Collins' first important meeting of the day, followed by a walk in Bath with Republican State Senator Jon Courtney, who is running against Rep. Chellie Pingree for Maine's1st District in the House of Representatives.

Greeted by eighth graders next to the now famous John Gable mural at the front entrance, Collins and her staff toured the school for photos ops, a special reading and a presentation: A Day in the Life of U.S. Senator Susan Collins.

Each year, the eighth grade class travels to Washington, D.C., where they meet senators representing Maine and tour historic sites. School secretary Betsy Lane said the students raise funds for over a year to pay for most of the trip's cost. “This community is very supportive of our school,” she added.

“It's an amazing trip,” school bus driver Julie Mackie said. “I would love to be able to go down there. Not everybody gets to see these sites and experience history first-hand.”

This is the first time Collins has visited Woolwich Central School. Eighth grade students will have a chance to speak with her again when they take their trip to Washington, D.C. in June.

Throughout her visit, Collins remarked about the importance of reading. She marveled at the creativity in the large mural by internationally renowned Woolwich artist John Gable and of the modern design in the new school building.

She read a favorite, “Antlers Forever,” by Maine author Frances Bloxam to second graders during her visit. Children did not utter a peep while she read, her voice rising and falling in dramatic storytelling technique. Collins stopped occasionally to share her thoughts and to elicit responses from her audience, who asked questions when called upon. “This is my favorite part,” she said, sharing her enthusiasm for reading to children. 

“I think it's so important you become good readers,” Collins told the students. “I love to read. When you become a good reader, you can become anything you want to be.”

Collins shared with her eighth grade audience the joys, struggles and triumphs she has had serving as a U.S. senator. Students did not hesitate to answer when Collins quizzed them about the number of senators in the U.S., how many senators represent Maine and who was the first woman senator in history to represent Maine. 

“It must be a lot of fun to be a senator,” one student said as photos showing Collins meeting with astronauts, consulting with President Barack Obama and visiting the South Pole appeared on a screen behind her. Collins responded, “I get to do a lot of things, but it is a lot of work.”

Collins said she has worked across the aisle to help pass laws on transportation and business. She told students one of the problems Congress has right now is Republicans and Democrats are not working together. Her experiences in Washington, D.C. showed students she is interested in continuing to work collaboratively.

In response to a question about campaigning, Collins said she has to talk with a lot of people to find out what the issues are and to hear constituents' concerns. She said she did not win in her bid for governor of Maine in 1994, but “I learned never to give up. Life can be tough. You're not always going to achieve your dream on the first try, but don't give up.”

Asked about her job as a senator, Collins said, “I thought I'd be done with homework.” But she said that at the end of her day filled with meetings, debates, hearings and voting she is greeted with a large pile of paperwork.

“It's a lot of work, but it is interesting work,” she said. “And you feel like you're making a difference.”