By Ruby Bennett  

   “It was exhilarating and gratifying,” said Ava Facio, an eighth grader at Tempe Preparatory Academy. In February, Ava competed at the regional spelling bee held at Franklin Accelerated Academy in Mesa. There were 35 contestants, mostly from BASIS and Great Hearts schools. 

   These sixth through eighth graders had already won their school and district spelling bees. Students only participated in a district competition if their district was made up of more than one school.

   As the spellers entered the building they were handed a yellow folder containing a few different papers: a card with a randomized number for where to sit, a certificate and two pamphlets with all the other speller’s names and schools. 

   Once they found their seat, participants were permitted to study until they were called onto the stage. However, Ava chose not to study. “I went into it fully trusting myself, and it carried me far into the competition,” Ava said. She explained that, rather than being beneficial, studying would have made her more stressed. 

   For Ava, an important part of her performance was being collected and calm even while others were shaking. It is important for participants to speak steadily since spellers aren’t able to correct themselves. Because of this, Ava performed incredibly well and won third place.                 

   Although she didn’t study, Ava credits part of her success to some of the people who supported her including her mother, as well as her history teacher, Mr. Macdonald. “I enjoyed spelling my word and then looking for my mom to see how proud she was,” said Ava. 

   Having trusted in her abilities and given her all to be put together and have a calm performance, Ava was able to compete and successfully represent TPA at the regional spelling bee. That, she said, “made me feel so confident.”