Lights,
Cameras, Action!
Most
first-time national finalists are surprised by the amount of media coverage that
occurs at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. I believe it is wise for first-time
finalists to prepare themselves for bright lights and eager photographers.
Remember when
you started school? Perhaps your mom or dad took you to your new school before
the first real day so that you could scope it out. They were aware that knowing
a little bit about what to expect takes the edge off of what might be an overwhelming
experience.
A few spellers find the bright lights negatively awesome. If you think that you
are one of these spellers, you can take the edge off of what might be an overwhelming
experience by preparing yourself mentally for these bright lights. If you expect
them, you'll be better able to ignore them—or at least take them in stride—and
focus on the task at hand.
Howard Lash, a 1972 Scripps National Spelling Bee finalist who represented The
Hammond Times of Hammond, Indiana, wrote to me some time ago:
Dear Carolyn,
I just came across the Scripps National Spelling Bee Web site, and it brought
back very fond memories of when I was a finalist in the 1972 National Spelling
Bee! :-)
Perhaps it might be good to remind first-time finalists not to let themselves
be too overawed by their Bee Week experiences. That's what unfortunately happened
to me. By the time I found myself on stage—in front of the microphone, in
the glare of the lights, with all those cameras clicking away—I was so nervous
that my mind went totally blank! I went down in the second or third round (my
mind was so blank I don't remember which!), tripping myself up on the word tyrannous,
a word that I knew very well how to spell! I was just so nervous and overawed
by the whole National Spelling Bee experience, I simply couldn't think straight!
I sure
wish there had been a National Spelling Bee Web site in 1972! :-)
Despite not doing so well in the contest itself, just being a finalist in the
National Spelling Bee was an experience that I will always fondly cherish! For
example, who could ever forget being the guests of honor at a party in the White
House Rose Garden, hosted by the daughter of the President, while being entertained
by the Marine Band? Regardless of where I placed in the contest, it was just as
we were reminded in one of the information sheets given to us on the first day
of Bee Week, "Have fun. Each of you is already a champion!"
P.S.
By the way, about ten years ago I was watching the local Public Television station,
which was televising a college course in psychology. It seemed interesting to
me, so I decided to watch it. The program was on the subject of what motivates
people. Amid scenes of runners winning races and sports teams winning games, what
did I see? A brief scene of Robin Kral winnning the 1972 Scripps National Spelling
Bee! At the moment I saw it flash on the TV screen, I was absolutely stunned;
but afterward it made me feel so good to relive a happy childhood memory in such
an unexpected way.
Howard
included with his message a photo that was taken by Mr. Theodore Vissers, father
of an Anchorage, Alaska, speller who placed third that year, Joseph "Joey"
Vissers. Howard is speller #12 in the photo, the young man in the front row on
the right. Spelling Bee Director James Wagner was making opening announcements,
and Howard was paying close attention. The setting is the Mayflower Hotel in Washington,
and there were 72 national finalists that year. Notice in the foreground one of
the bright lights that Howard found so distracting:
Thank you,
Howard, for sharing your thoughts and memories. I encourage all spellers to get
ready for the lights and cameras and to get set for spelling action. Let's go!
