The National Spelling Bee, a prestigious event that showcases the brightest young minds in orthography, is underway, featuring contestants who embody both talent and determination. Among them is Faizan Zaki, who as an underdog hopes to follow in the footsteps of previous underdog success stories. Alluding to the tough road that’s still in front of him, with goals of winning it all, he said, “Hopefully I can get it done.”
The quarter-finals took place on May 28, running from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., followed by the semi-finals later that day from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The finals are on May 29, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Prepare yourself for a thrilling climax to this year’s battle royale!
Faizan’s journey is even more inspiring considering the historical data that would indicate underdogs have had a hard time moving on in recent years. Despite the odds stacked against him, he remains hopeful, driven by encouragement from friends back home who express their support for his potential win this year.
By comparison, eight-year-old Zachary Teoh of Houston showed the poise of a veteran in his first appearance in the bee. He had a life-changing encounter when he was introduced to Jacques Bailly. Jacques has served as lead pronouncer for the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2001. Zachary couldn’t contain his elation after the event, telling us, “We read the dictionary together!
Vikram Raju, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, came back to the bee. This time, he wasn’t the one competing—rather, he had come to support his younger brother, Ved. Vikram understands the harsh reality of cutthroat competition. He provided important behind-the-scenes details on the random, sometimes cruel, nature of the spelling bee. He pointed out that being able to write every word in the dictionary doesn’t cut it. Just as many factors will be out of your control—now and forever. He went on to explain how nerves and distractions worked against competitors in the contest. He once said that, “The nerves can’t just grow infinitely. Perhaps the audience is throwing you off in that specific instance. Maybe your tongue slips. Maybe you get too excited.”
Vikram emphasized the importance of luck in the event, mentioning, “I don’t want to say that luck is the most important factor, but it’s a huge factor in this competition.” His sentiments ring true for almost all participants and for those who understand that despite extreme preparation, the most experienced players can meet unexpected roadblocks.
Naysa Modi overlays to the competitive landscape. She famously came in a strong second place in 2018 but was knocked out in the 2019 primary. Her experience illustrates the capriciousness of bees. It shines a bright light on the obvious — that just because you performed well in the past, doesn’t mean you’ll win in the future.
Moving through the competition, all eyes are on Faizan Zaki. Other promising entrants, such as Zachary Teoh, are turning heads. Every single contestant that walks out on that stage has their own distinct journey and hopes and dreams. This makes for a riveting event packed with suspense and drama!