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Author:
Rachel Renée Russell

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Dork Diaries Book 14

Dork Diaries

#1 New York Times Bestselling Series

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July 8, 2019

Spotlight on… Naysa Modi!!!

Hey readers, I’m going to tell you about an elite competitor. This individual trains for several hours a day and competes on ESPN in front of a national audience.

I’m talking about 13-year-old Naysa Modi, an elite speller from Texas.
Yeah, I said speller! Didn’t know spelling was a sport? Well, maybe not a sport…but it’s definitely a competition that requires a ton of training, dedication, and guts. Spellers stand on a stage, alone at a microphone in front of a huge live audience (and broadcast on television), and get one chance to spell a super hard word aloud (no scratch paper!) before moving on to the next round. It’s super stressful!

Your school might have a spelling bee—maybe you’ve even participated. If you win, you usually go on to a county spelling bee with the winners of all the school spelling bees in your area. From there you might go on to state and regional competitions. But only the best of the best winners of those state and regional competitions go on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which comes on ESPN. It’s the Oscars/World Series/Olympics of spelling!

And Naysa Modi has been there FOUR TIMES! She went for the first time when she was only nine years old. She tied for 50th place. But she wasn’t discouraged—it was an amazing accomplishment just to be there. She came back the next year and tied for 46th place! Improvement! The next year she was back, and finished seventh, missing the semi-finals by one point. And then, last year in 2018, she was in the final round and came in second to a speller she had beaten in a regional competition.
The word she went out on? Bewusstseinslage. OMG!!! I can’t even pronounce that word—forget spelling it!!!

But here are some words she has spelled right in the competition: Beetewk, tchotchke, phthisiology, tabard, Weissnichtwo, schadenfreude, schottische and rejoneador. Naysa is officially a spelling QUEEN! 🙂

How does she stick with it and keep coming back? “It’s not just words,” she says. “It’s staying calm on stage, staying calm under pressure, managing time. It’s been really exhilarating.”

In addition to spelling, Naysa does tae-kwon-do and stand-up comedy, plays soccer, and wants to be a doctor. This year she’s in eighth grade, which is her last shot to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee! I know I’ll be tuning in to ESPN and rooting for her!!!

What’s something you’re really good at? Hey, it’s okay—you get to have full bragging rights and tell us about how AWESOME you are in the comments!

Category: My Diary Tags: Spotlightnikki

Comments

  1. 125
    Bookworm dork says:
    July 19, 2019 at 4:29 am

    You are so cool, Naysa. I wish i could be like you one day!

  2. 124
    Kayla Dawnson says:
    July 18, 2019 at 6:01 pm

    nikki this is not about talent but what about later in my life i have a huge crush on a boy and i don’t know how to react. this dork needs some help. comment.

  3. 123
    Kayla Dawnson says:
    July 18, 2019 at 5:59 pm

    I feel like i’m not good at anything 4 like 4 ever i need help share your advice.

  4. 122
    Anonymous says:
    July 18, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    OMG Naysa

  5. 121
    Dorky Unicorn says:
    July 18, 2019 at 11:21 am

    That’s a GREAT talent of yours, so you SHOULD celebrate it!

  6. 120
    Hopefully Future Author says:
    July 17, 2019 at 11:53 pm

    I’m good at art, singing, dancing and writing stories. I hope to become a author when I’m older!

  7. 119
    Popplio Brionne primarina says:
    July 17, 2019 at 9:01 pm

    I’m good at singing

  8. 118
    Dorky101 says:
    July 17, 2019 at 1:15 pm

    Congrats! You go girl
    I am very good at spelling too!
    But I might be nowhere near you in spellings

  9. 117
    4ever Fab✨ says:
    July 16, 2019 at 11:10 pm

    Please everyone, we don’t need to fight. Ok? Can we all just be friends? Like seriously do we need to fight like a couple of 2 year olds? No. So let’s all stop. P.S Naysa you go girl! #Awesome

  10. 116
    Naysa Modi says:
    July 16, 2019 at 11:02 pm

    Hey guys! Thanks for posting about me! Also, my two bffs are on here! Thanks guys for supporting me It really means a lot to me. Have a great day/night!

    • 116.1
      Anonymous says:
      July 17, 2019 at 9:32 am

      Oh wow! Hi Naysa! I don’t know you in real life and you don’t know me, but wow, you are so talented! It’s a shame you weren’t the champion this year, but there’s many more opportunities in high school. Keep up the good work!

    • 116.2
      Anonymous says:
      July 20, 2019 at 8:17 am

      Omg is that really u your awesome

    • 116.3
      dorkdiariesfan says:
      July 20, 2019 at 8:31 am

      Congrats! I couldn’t even spell it out loud.

    • 116.4
      Naysa Modi says:
      July 21, 2019 at 10:14 pm

      And also, never stop believing in yourself and your dreams! If you put your mind and heart into it, you can achieve anything!

  11. 115
    dee says:
    July 16, 2019 at 10:41 pm

    I’ve met her when I went to competition with her a couple years ago! It was awesome!

  12. 114
    Its Jojo Siwa says:
    July 16, 2019 at 6:01 pm

    Also, congrats on Naysa Modi! You rock!✨
    Check out my channel and find me on tour! Get my newest song, It’s Time to Celebrate!

    • 114.1
      jojonumber1fan says:
      July 21, 2019 at 7:15 am

      I watched it.;]

  13. 113
    elle says:
    July 16, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    im good at sports drawing and dancing

  14. 112
    elle says:
    July 16, 2019 at 1:50 pm

    great news and always show your dorkness and be u

  15. 111
    UltraDorkFan says:
    July 15, 2019 at 9:48 pm

    I’m good at S.T.E.A.M. anything related to science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. I really like it because you can be creative and design experiments, make games and apps and more. Also, the world needs more powerful girls and women who like and are interested in science careers.

  16. 110
    STAAR student says:
    July 15, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    I am really good at writing and reading!!!!! I love to sit down in a comfy chair and just read or write for hours!! I even made a 100 last year on my STAAR test final (I’m from tx,too!) in both of those subjects ( not to be rude,braggy or selfish) Also kudos to her! It must be so nerve wracking to stand on stage with what feels like the whole world watching you as you spell a super hard word! Heck when I
    Was trying to read those words she had to spell it just looked like a jumble of letters to me lol.

  17. 109
    Future Spelling Bee Champ! says:
    July 15, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    so inspirational for me!!! My dream is to be a great speller! Ive only won one but i hope to win more!! (sorry if i sounds like im bragging. im not just super excited about this post!!) 🙂

  18. 108
    Runner145 says:
    July 15, 2019 at 4:52 pm

    I’m good at running and writing

  19. 107
    ilovedorkdiaries says:
    July 15, 2019 at 2:58 pm

    I am really good at swimming

  20. 106
    ilovedorkdiaries says:
    July 15, 2019 at 2:58 pm

    I am really good at reading dork diaries

  21. 105
    Girly geek says:
    July 15, 2019 at 4:24 am

    I am really good at ballet,Art and writing. ♡♡♡

    • 105.1
      ellegamerr says:
      July 16, 2019 at 1:52 pm

      me to

  22. 104
    Sweet tooth says:
    July 15, 2019 at 12:46 am

    Wow,she really IS a spelling QUEEN!!and super talented.Even I have a talent like that.To sing.

    • 104.1
      IKR says:
      July 19, 2019 at 4:45 pm

      IKR!

  23. 103
    Anonymous says:
    July 14, 2019 at 8:28 pm

    I am good at singing,dancing,drawing,bowling,and hockey. One time I was in a spelling bee and I lost.

  24. 102
    Galaxy dragon luv says:
    July 14, 2019 at 8:18 pm

    That’s so cool! I participated in a school spelling bee in third grade! ( it was just for fun!) and I got fourth place! It was an amazing experience to be with really talented spellers and people! I’m rooting for Naysa! NEVER GIVE UP!

  25. 101
    I knew Naysa! says:
    July 14, 2019 at 7:22 pm

    Omg! I know her! She goes to my school! She also likes drawing, and writing too! She was in our school spelling bees a couple times back in elementary school. She won almost all of them. That’s no surprise though! Lol. We’re not bestie besties but we have talked before and sat by each other in class. I’ve seen her on YouTube and was amazed! I knew when she talented when she was in our old spelling bees, she beat most of the top students and even some of the teachers! She probably won’t remember me, but, hey, at least I talked to a star! Lol. Congrats Naysa on this big win!

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