Smith winner for junior high
At the Jackson County Spelling Bee for junior high, Industrial’s Scarlett Smith’s winning word was anthropology.
“When I heard it, I was like wait, I know this word, this is easy,” the seventh grader said.
This year was her fourth time winning the county bee, and the 12-year old’s mother said her love for spelling happened when she was in first grade.
“At her old school in Magnolia, they didn’t have the first graders participate in the school bee, but they got to do a classroom bee and then a grade level bee,” said Catheran Smith. “I think that’s where she fell in love with them. Every school bee since she got to participate in since second grade, she’s won every single school year.”
The way to be a winner like Scarlett, is not only to study every free moment of every day, but to love what you’re doing, and want to do it without having a parent pushing you. In addition to being a top speller, Scarlett is involved with 4-H archery and riflery, UIL, and is a member of a swim team with the Victoria Texas Aquatic Club, something that takes up the majority of her time.
“She practices with her swim team Monday to Friday for an hour and a half to two hours each day, and then they travel everywhere for competitions,” Catheran said. “But on the way to school, on the way home, at swim meets, before bed, and Scarlett was studying her words.”
Students receive a list of words for the school bee, plus level one, two and three. Each level contains 1,500 words, which amounts to over 4,500 words. Scarlett, in addition to school and other activities, was able to get through level two.
“She takes the time to learn the origin and domain,” Catheran said.
Scarlett nodded. “Like if a word is Latin and it has an f sound, it’s a ph,” she said.
At Regionals, Scarlett didn’t do too shabby, she placed an impressive fourth place, and lost on the word enviable.
“I got really nervous and my mind just blanked,” she said. “I try to sound words out in my head, and I think about the origin.”
Catheran said origin can be tough for Scarlett at times when the word adds English parts of origin to it, because English doesn’t follow the rules like Latin, French or Greek. But she remembers more than most.
“I really hope to win regionals next year because I won’t be able to participate anymore, it frustrated me,” Scarlett said.
Scarlett is the daughter of Catheran and Greg Smith. She has had three poems published with Creative Communications, loves solving different Rubik’s cubes, horseback riding and crocheting.
“We’re so proud of her, the amount of work she puts into studying is unbelievable, and her determination and drive,” Catheran said, and smiled.
“Next year she hopes it’ll be five wins,” Scarlett said.
