Dev Jaiswal, speller 132, has been feeling good all week.
After competing in the national bee in 2012, Dev was beaten at the local level for the next two years. So this, his eighth grade year, is a most triumphant return.
“I’ve done better than I ever expected to,” Dev said before he even learned he was a finalist. “It’s such a big honor to represent the state.”
Dev, who is from Mississippi, has a slew of fans cheering for him. Not least of all is his sister, Rani, who came to the bee as a competitor herself in 2010.
“I’m so proud of him,” she said. “He said he’s blown his own mind. He’s blowing all of ours, too.”
In the audience, Rani held hands with her mother as they watched Dev spell on stage. Rani said it was calming to see Dev’s confidence on stage, but there were still nerves.
“My heart is – I don’t know what it’s doing inside,” Hemlata Jaiswal said.
Dev said he feels blessed by the support, and to have advanced as far as he has.
“I’m feeling amazing. It all feels like a dream,” he said. “I’ve worked so hard for it and I tried my best.”
He stood at the microphone for a minute after misspelling "iridocyclitis" to savor the standing ovation.