I enjoyed reading The Gazette’s coverage of Collin Shea, the young speller from Mayfield who participated in the National Spelling Bee this spring.
Forty-seven years ago, that was me — an 11-year-old seventh-grader from Saint Gregory’s School in Loudonville who was lucky enough to win the regional bee.
Like Collin, I received an event-filled free trip to Washington, D.C. and, also like him, I went out in an early round (but on a far easier word than onerous, I’m still embarrassed to relate).
Things haven’t changed much at all since then, despite the digital revolution — kids still like to compete, and a trip to the nation’s capital for a national spelling bee is still a lot of fun.
I wish Collin all the best next year — from the sound of it, he’ll be back.
David Brickman
Albany
Categories: Letters to the Editor, Opinion
