HEB ISD School & Family Magazine April/May 2016 | Page 6

GeoGraphy Bee
Adapted from a speech
by Ben Benjadol, Central
Junior High, at the HEB ISD
geography competition

My hard work paid off in 2014, when I stood on
this stage, proudly holding up the blue, white, and
gold trophy – I was finally Texas state geography
bee champion. At the National Geographic Bee,
I missed the top ten by one question. Coming
in 11th place nationally left me determined to
return and win it all. I hit the books again with
renewed enthusiasm.
The next year, I won the school and district
geography bees, and qualified for the state bee.
I readied myself for my fifth and final shot to make
it back to D.C. and win. It was now or never.
The state geography bee is a grueling competition
– arguably more stressful than the national
competition. The high pressure, high stakes, and
the fact that perfect scores are near-imperative
all add to the already skyrocketing stress levels
for the participants.
For the past five years, I was on that very stage,
my hands shaking, face pale, staring blankly at the
donuts on the back table for the nervous eaters
in the room. And by nervous eaters, I mean the
parents. I never had an appetite before any Bee
competition, and I can say that even though I’ve
been on this stage fifteen times for spelling bees
and geography bees, I have never consumed a
single pastry from the back table.
Although there is an inevitable factor of luck
in the geography bee, n