Life Lessons From the Scripps National Spelling Bee
The event is about more than just the words
This week, word nerds will tune in to an event that, for them, is as enjoyable to watch as the Super Bowl and the World Series. But the Scripps National Spelling Bee is not just a way to satisfy the need for a little word porn; it is also filled with life lessons we can learn from the event and its young contestants. The following are some of those lessons.
I’m not even this well-behaved when I win, which can make me pretty insufferable….
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
During the Scripps National Spelling Bee, contestants aren’t shy when it comes to asking questions — about the origin of a word, its definition, and how it can be used in a sentence — which can help them complete the task at hand. As children, we have no problem asking questions — and lots of them — but as we get older, we fear this is somehow a sign of weakness. But it isn’t. There’s nothing weak about admitting you need help and demonstrating you’re not afraid to ask questions in order to get it. In fact, acknowledging what you don’t know and being willing to ask for the information is a sign of great strength.
Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
The contestants of the National Spelling Bee make mistakes, but they don’t seem to take them too seriously. They laugh and make jokes — sometimes at their own expense — which helps them enjoy the experience. Although we do feel the need to save face so we don’t look like complete idiots, there’s no reason to take ourselves so seriously once we’ve grown up. Mistakes happen all the time, that’s just life. It’s not the fact you made a mistake that people will remember; it’s the way you handle your mistakes that will ultimately dictate what people think of you.
There’s nothing weak about admitting you need help.
Never Stop Learning
Anyone who has ever watched the Scripps National Spelling Bee can tell that these are young people who love to learn — particularly a spelling list — and they seem to soak up new words like a sponge. No matter how old you are, however, there is always something new to learn. People who think they know everything are not only annoying, but they tend to stay stagnant in their lives. There’s a good reason why Socrates said, “The more I know, the more I realize I know nothing.” We can always learn something new and seeking out these opportunities for knowledge enriches us.
Always Be Gracious, Even When You Don’t Get Your Way
The kids competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee are some of the most gracious people I’ve ever seen, even in the face of great disappointment. When they misspell a word and get knocked out of the competition, they still thank the person who delivers the bad news. I have to admit, I’ve had some killer Scrabble competitions in my day, and at times, I’m not even this well-behaved when I win, which can make me pretty insufferable to play games with. As someone who can be a sore loser and a sore winner, I definitely could learn a few lessons in grace from these contestants.
It’s the way you handle your mistakes that will ultimately dictate what people think of you.
Beware of Spell Checkers
Once upon a time, I was a great speller. Not National Spelling Bee great, but still pretty great. Then came the spell checker and that all changed. I’ve watched my ability to spell slowly degrade over the years, and my reliance on using a dictionary to check my spelling pretty much disintegrate into nonexistence. Although I do edit and proofread everything I write, I find myself being challenged to spell many words in my head because I know the spell checker will do it for me. So if nothing else, watching the spelling bee reminds me that sometimes progress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and with convenience, we can lose a part of ourselves that may be worth holding on to.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is a lot of fun to watch, and not just for the words. Seeing these kids compete reminds me of how we can learn life lessons from some of the most unlikely places — if we’re open enough to find them.
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