CAMPUS CORRESPONDENCE : Don’t Cry for Chelsea: Washington’s a Blessing

There has been a lot of discussion about what’s best for Bill Clinton’s daughter Chelsea. Would she be better off--as the President-elect has sometimes wondered aloud--in Little Rock, Ark., graduating from her school, maintaining her friendships and taking cheap ballet lessons? Or is it in Chelsea’s best interests to move to Washington, where she would be exposed to the events and personalities--not to mention the use of a big yard, a heated pool, and tennis courts--that a presidential father can offer?

When you’re a teen-ager, stability can be hard to come by. It is a physically awkward and emotionally unsettling time. So there’s much to be said for familiar surroundings and established friendships. Arkansas has been Chelsea’s home all her life.

Also, it is an age when personal privacy is worth a fight to the death. But whenever Chelsea leaves the White House, she will be followed by the Secret Service, the vigilant shadow who will make even a trip to the bathroom seem like an event worthy of CNN coverage.

Making new friends will be even tougher. For a while, Chelsea may wonder if her schoolmates want to know her because of who she is--an ordinary 12-year-old--or who her father is--the President of the United States.

Every teen-ager is at one time or another embarrassed by their parents. For Chelsea, there may be no relief, since her mother and father will continually be on television. Being an only child will make the adjustment harder.

But in the long run, these are minor sacrifices compared with the incredible experiences that await Chelsea in Washington. The move will be a tremendous aid in her emotional development.

As the President’s daughter, she will have access in Washington beyond what the average 12-year-old could even imagine. There are museums, theaters and, of course, shopping in Georgetown. Night life is much more than dinner and a movie. Even if Chelsea decides to stay in, there’s the private screening room or the bowling alley in the White House to keep her busy.

With these and other experiences--her travel will be the envy of every dreamer--will come a new perspective on life and the world, one that few teen-agers could match. It will be impossible for her not to learn: Whenever she turns around, there will probably be a world leader, a powerful politician or a celebrity.

Still, many don’t seem to realize these positive aspects to life in Washington. Sure, she’s going to have to grow up pretty quick. But people shouldn’t worry too much about the strain on Chelsea that will accompany the adjustment to the White House. As comforting as it is to live in familiar surroundings in peaceful anonymity, an opportunity to live in Washington simply cannot be passed up.

In any case, there are plenty of places in Washington to take ballet lessons.