My dream began with an impromptu classroom spelling bee, but it grew with the help of a movie. This movie was Akeelah and the Bee. While this movie is a fictional docudrama, it inspired me to have a goal in my spelling bee journey and to believe that anything is possible. After watching this movie, I believed in my dream of making it to the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Akeelah and the Bee helped my dream come true. Since the end of my days as a speller, I have continued to foster my love of all things spelling. I organize fundraiser spelling bees that support honeybees and gardens. I also start and moderate spelling bee clubs at local middle schools. I coach spellers to prepare for spelling bees. My experiences in the spelling bee have lived on. I credit Akeelah and the Bee for all of the wonderful experiences in my spelling bee journey that continues to unfold.