For anyone who knows my struggles with spelling, it may surprise you to hear that I was just a judge at a spelling bee. How did this happen?!? The teacher Nolan and I went to to learn Spanish also teaches English at a local university. He was running a spelling bee and needed judges. When he asked us to help out, my only thought was “I will do it if we get the answers”. Nolan and I show up to the university and oooo and aaaah over his students decorations of the hallway and entrance to the room. The room was a mock courtroom they use for their law students. We met the other judge (who had done this before and gave us the lowdown). I was so nervous! Knowing they could ask for the word to used in a sentence, I felt the panic set in. What if I can’t think of a sentence on the spot? Or worse, what if the sentence I think of is inappropriate?!? Then I remembered that the students were far more nervous than I was and I got over myself. We took turns picking words and saying them as clearly as possible. One by one they fell. It was heartbreaking every time. They were trying so hard. Down to the last two, and it was a nail-biter. They went back and forth thru 10 plus words until end. Afterwards there were lots of pictures and everyone got a certificate (even us judges!). All-in-all it was an unexpected way to spend our morning and I would totally do it again.
~ B r i d g e t
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