Ohio eighth grader Sahana Srikanth, speller 178, said she is just “mind blown” that she’s made the Finals.
She looked up to the other spellers, she said, and never thought she might share a stage with them. But then she gave herself some good advice:
“Stop doubting yourself,” she said. “When you understand your abilities, you know how capable you are.”
She said being in Washington, D.C., means the world to her, and described spelling as a series of “little epiphanies” – like realizing that “psephology” means "the study of elections" because the root, which means pebbles, came from using pebbles to count votes in ancient Athens.
Outside of spelling, Sahana likes to play piano and violin, compose music and do Indian classical dance. She also plays with her brother, who she said cheers her on.
The other spellers, she said, are “so supportive.” And she marveled, for a moment, that she already knows the person who will be the next spelling bee champion.
“I’ve met the people I’ve had as a role model,” she said. “I have to take a moment to process that they’re real and I’m real and that we’re here.”