By: Natalia Cruz

   This year’s Spelling Bee saw a variety of experiences, with students sharing different perspectives on what it was like to compete. For some, it was a chance to show off their skills, while for others it was a stressful and nerve-wracking event. 

   Charles Gulseth, along with the rest of the competitors, was chosen because he had been one of the top spellers in his class. However, he admitted to “Not [studying] very hard,” and his mom, “had to convince me to try.” He found the event to be more stressful than enjoyable. “[The] time of the event could have been better,” he said. “I got stressed out about it way more than I should’ve.”

   Julieta Navarro, also selected based on her spelling test scores, agreed the event was stressful but did not mind the experience. “It was good, I guess,” she said. Despite the tension, she didn’t find anything particularly fun or memorable.

   On the other hand, Hazel Pany thoroughly enjoyed her experience. “I studied a lot! I loved studying with my friends,” she said. Hazel found the event to be fun, especially with memorable moments like the mic being adjusted repeatedly. “I think it was really fun how the mic was constantly adjusted and eventually fell off!”

   Jude Zebian was one of the first to be eliminated but still appreciated the event. “I studied really hard for the spelling bee, especially over winter break,” he shared. He felt the event could have been improved by not mixing different grade levels and speeding up the process.

   Mason Quinones, who had the highest score on the eighth-grade test, felt confident. “I think it was very fun. I got to compete with other people and show off my skills,” he said. He also appreciated learning more about his fellow competitors. “There were a lot of people there that I never would’ve expected to be really good at spelling.”

   From stressful to fun, the Spelling Bee provided valuable experiences for all participants. Overall, everyone enjoyed the spelling bee in one way or another, but it does seem there is a lot of feedback that can be channeled into improvement.