Friday, May 29, 2009

Things I never did while studying for the spelling bee

I watched part of the National Spelling Bee this morning, and I was amazed at what these kids do to prepare for the rigors of competition. All I ever did was have my mom quiz me with practice words from the spelling bee handbook. With that work ethic, no wonder I never made it to DC. Josephine Kao, one of the favorites until she spelled out in the fifth round, memorized chemicals on the toothpaste tube:

She said she fixes words in her mind as she goes through her day, even memorizing the spellings of the chemicals on her tube of toothpaste. "I think I'll probably still study a bit," she said afterward. "Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do."

Josephine, you'll be fine. Six months from now you'll have a new academic obsession at which you will excel, and you'll forget all about spelling.

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