Celebrating Achievement

I happened to catch the end of the Scripps National Spelling Bee final last week. There were several interesting things about this: it was on a major network during prime time; and it was a remarkable celebration of achievement, specifically intellectual achievement.

Now I’m no spelling geek. I am a reasonable speller. I also know how to use a dictionary, and with the advent of computers, spell check. So I don’t need to know how to spell prosopopoeia or esclandre. Hell, before the spelling bee final I didn’t even know what they mean.

At a time when candidates for President are slamming achievement and encouraging citizens to forsake success, it was refreshing to see achievement and success celebrated.

Many of the contestants appeared to be either first or second generation Americans. Their families came to America for the opportunity our country offers. They came here for the freedom to pursue their values and exercise their independent minds. It was only fitting then, that so many of these “new” Americans made it to the national finals.

Amidst the daily struggles of building our paint contracting business, we sometimes need a sign that success is possible. We sometimes need the emotional fuel of witnessing and celebrating achievement. I found it in a 12-year-old boy who knew how to spell guerdon. Thank you Sameer Mishra and congratulations.

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2008