Aiden Ross is not a typical eighth-grader.

His father, Kevin Ross, says his son has watched the news religiously since he was about 12 years old, and he debates politics — such as who America’s best president was  — for fun.

Aiden also happened to write about news anchor Wolf Blitzer for the 2016 Dallas Celebration of Student Reading Essay Contest, sponsored by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. He was chosen as one of three eighth-grade winners.

“I’m very proud of him, but I’m not surprised, obviously,” Kevin says. “Not many kids his age are interested in politics.”

Aiden, although, was surprised when Dealey Principal Beverly Lusk, his family and even a few reporters interrupted his class just to hand him an envelope. What he didn’t know was Dallas ISD sent the essay to Wolf Blitzer, who then mailed Aiden a note and signed autograph.

“I was really happy,” Aiden says. “I thought it was just a headshot, but then I saw the letter, and I thought, ‘Oh my God.'”