I didn’t set out to become a spelling bee competitor. In fact, at first, I thought spelling bees were just for the kids who carried dictionaries in their backpacks and corrected their teachers for fun. I was not one of those kids.
But one day in class in fourth grade my teacher announced the spelling bee which was online. It was super tough no word I had ever heard. That experience sparked curiosity in me and I started to dive deeper.
In fifth grade spelling bee was in person and I was very well prepared. I won school bee and knocked my self out in the regional qualifier round. That made me more focused and determined. Words became puzzles. Challenges. Friends.
Soon, I was studying lists late into the night, reciting spelling rules under my breath while brushing my teeth, and carrying flashcards in my pockets like lucky charms. My family quizzed me over dinner. My friends started calling me “The Word Wizard.” Hoping to win a ticket to Scripps National.
Sixth grade school bee came. I was nervous. My heart raced with each word—onomatopoeia, mischievous, silhouette. But I spelled them all right. When I won, I couldn’t believe it. Me?Regionals followed.
Seven and eighth grade both I won and reached regionals. Each level brought tougher competition, longer words, and higher stakes. But something had changed in me. I wasn’t just spelling—I was growing. I had found focus, confidence, and a strange love for words I never knew existed.
I didn’t win every round. I didn’t always come out on top. My dream of going to Nationals was over as my eligibility expires after eighth grade. But every stage I stood on taught me something new—not just about language, but about myself. About what happens when you fall down and decide to get back up and try again, letter by letter. Winning from fifth grade to eight grade gave me huge fame and bragging rights in the district.
Spelling bee gave me more than trophies and certificates . It gave me a voice.
And that’s a word I’ll never misspell.
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