Dublin Spelling Champ Headed To State Spelling Bee

DUBLIN, CA — Neophyte. That's the word that gave Wells Middle School student Aanya Joshi, 13, her first victory at the Alameda County Office of Education junior high spelling bee last month.

This is Joshi's biggest win yet, but she's no stranger to the spelling bee stage. She made it to the school-level bee in grades four, five and six, and advanced to the Dublin Unified School District bee last year.

Joshi, an avid reader, said she loves the English language and grammar. She finds respite in fantasy, realistic fiction and young adult books.

"I don't think I can ever read too much," she said.

But despite her love for literature, Joshi said she felt unprepared for the county bee. She devoted up to 45 minutes per day searching online word lists, reading the dictionary and making flashcards, but she didn't feel like she was doing enough.

"I was, like, jumping out of my skin," Joshi said.

Spelling bees can be tough when contestants encounter a word they don't know, Joshi said.

"You don't know if that's going to be your last word or if by some miracle you get it right," she said.

The DUSD spelling bee seemed to be more challenging than the county spelling bee, Joshi said.

It's unclear when she will advance to the state competition, which may be rescheduled amid the coronavirus pandemic. But Joshi is looking forward to having her shot.

"It's really fun and it's always a little scary and exciting when you get onstage," she said. "I guess that's kind of why I like it."