Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from Kate Miller's recap of her Bee Week experience. This series of posts 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.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
At the close of Semifinals, thirty-one of us remain. Last night's Round 4 computer-based test (which gave me "fluffy-bunny" feelings about the earlier Round 1 exam) will determine who of those still standing are to become the twelve to pass on to Finals. Fellow Texan Ansun Sujoe and I discuss our scores. Ansun was all heart during the Semifinals, showing true compassion every time someone misspelled. Now, we worry for ourselves.
Sriram Hathwar and I exchange good luck high-fives. The first Finalists are announced. Sriram got a perfect score on the Semifinals test, and the crowd roars as his name is called. Funny and fun Samuel Pereles (speller #255) joins him at the front of the stage. Neha Konakalla, speller #20, smiles as she accepts her medal. #139 Gokul Venkatachalam goes on, of course; no surprise there. Tejas Muthusamy, speller #263, is the youngest person on the stage, and he gives an adorable wave to the cameras upon being announced.
Then, "Speller #232 from Abilene, Texas, Kate Miller!" And suddenly, here I am in the Finals-a shining place in the sky where I had never let myself hope to climb. Later, I am told I barely show a reaction. But how should a person react when she's told to walk into the sky? I somehow rise and accept my gold medal from a beaming Paige Kimble. It's all too amazing to bee-lieve. (Continue to Part Three)
