Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from Kate Miller's recap of her Bee Week experience. This post (and the two that will follow later in the week) will give readers a feel for the emotions felt by the spellers during Bee Week. It is shared with permission from the MIller family. Kate finished T-8th in her third and final Scripps National Spelling Bee appearance.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Round 1. Everybody's first written test, involving spelling, vocabulary, and adrenaline. We hear Dr. Jacques Bailly's reassuring voice, pronouncing the words for us to spell.
Next is fun time. Our family takes a boat ride on the Potomac River to Mount Vernon with a couple of new pals, Speller #165 Dylan O'Connor of New York and #226 Benjamin Kulas of Tennessee. Don't forget my long-time Bee buddy #147, the sensational Katharine Wang, who is currently representing New Jersey.
Two o'clock in the afternoon rolls around. The spellers are (finally) permitted to talk about the test we took that morning. We grin and huddle on our first President's back porch to compare notes. We promptly convince one another that we are doomed. The historic, even scenic setting adds dramatic flair to our team-like (read "comical") depression. My parents are convinced we will advance; we ignore them. Group huddle melts into group puddle.
Paige Kimble restores our positive energy as she leads an evening assembly. After a well-delivered speech on the rules of The Bee by Pennsylvania's charismatic contestant #204 Shreyas Parab, a spokesperson from our new sponsor, Microsoft, walks up to the microphone. He shows a video clip, and announces that there is a surprise. Music with a heavy, expectant beat plays on the loudspeakers as we make our way to the stage. Some of us are not sure what to think. Some have fun and crazy hopes. Some are so excited, they're speechless. Microsoft bags are handed out and we are told not to open the bags, shake them, feel them, or taste them! (Of course, a couple of the boys lick them, anyway.) The suspense is killing us. Finally, we get the go ahead. #majorswag Everyone's hyped! All 281 champions are given a new Microsoft Surface! I've always shared a family computer, scheduling time to use the word processor. Now I am given a tablet of my own! This week is unbee-lievable. (Continue to Part Two)
