At three years old, I received an atlas for my birthday. Immediately, it engrossed me. I remember looking at the pages, mesmerized by pictures of places, animals, foods, and people so different from anything I had ever seen. Thinking of myself an explorer, I searched for the tallest mountains, the biggest desserts and imagined living there, much like in the Jungle Book. As I got older, my interest in maps and geography grew. Every year, when my grandmother presented me with a new Rand McNally Road Atlas, a world opened before me filled with roads, mountains, rivers, national parks, and forests. This fascination was one of my most defining interests, which began before kindergarten and has continued throughout my life.
During my first year at school, I was …show more content…
I won the School Bee and passed the test to compete in the State tournament. Although I didn’t perform very well at the state competition, I was determined to return the next year. I won my school competition again and made it to state. This time, I made it to the tiebreaker round. I vowed I would return again, and I did. In sixth grade, I won the school bee, made it to state, and placed in the Top 10 where I faced the state champions from the past two years. As other competitors dropped like flies, I made it to the top three, where I eventually slipped up. In seventh grade, I made my fourth appearance at state, made the Top 10. This time, I came out on top. I won a trip to our nation’s Capital for me and my Social Studies teacher. At the National Bee, I was disappointed I only got two of seven questions, but I learned more in those four days than ever before. I was with 53 geography prodigies from around the country, and it was very intimidating at times. My first interaction with my roommates was them quizzing each other on the states of India, of which I knew none. This was a massive difference from the comparable cakewalk that was the state
During my first year at school, I was …show more content…
I won the School Bee and passed the test to compete in the State tournament. Although I didn’t perform very well at the state competition, I was determined to return the next year. I won my school competition again and made it to state. This time, I made it to the tiebreaker round. I vowed I would return again, and I did. In sixth grade, I won the school bee, made it to state, and placed in the Top 10 where I faced the state champions from the past two years. As other competitors dropped like flies, I made it to the top three, where I eventually slipped up. In seventh grade, I made my fourth appearance at state, made the Top 10. This time, I came out on top. I won a trip to our nation’s Capital for me and my Social Studies teacher. At the National Bee, I was disappointed I only got two of seven questions, but I learned more in those four days than ever before. I was with 53 geography prodigies from around the country, and it was very intimidating at times. My first interaction with my roommates was them quizzing each other on the states of India, of which I knew none. This was a massive difference from the comparable cakewalk that was the state