You Simply must go to nationals at least once

I don't even know how to put this week into words.

I'm home now. My suitcase is still sitting by the door. My Scrabble bag is still packed. My sleep schedule is completely destroyed. And somehow, the thing I miss most isn't the competition.

It's the people.

If you've never been to the National Scrabble Championship, it's hard to explain what it feels like. From the outside, it probably looks like a room full of people quietly staring at letter tiles.

From the inside, it's one of the warmest, weirdest, smartest communities I've ever been lucky enough to stumble into.

Where else do people get genuinely excited about a seven-letter word? Where else do complete strangers spend an hour analyzing a game with you because they genuinely want to help you improve? Where else can you sit down for breakfast with a national champion, have dinner with a robotics professor, sing at a musicale, debate strategy, laugh until you cry, and meet people from every walk of life who all share the same wonderfully niche obsession?

This week reminded me that being passionate about something is never something to apologize for.

I came into Nationals wanting to become a better Scrabble player.

I left wanting to become a better person.

Some of the conversations I had had absolutely nothing to do with Scrabble. We talked about business, relationships, grief, psychology, education, personal growth, creativity, and what it means to build a meaningful life. People generously shared decades of experience with me simply because I asked questions. So many people took time out of their own tournament to encourage me, teach me, review games with me, introduce me to friends, and make me feel like I belonged.

That kind of generosity is rare.

And then there was the competition itself.

My results weren't what I hoped for. I lost a lot of games. I even had to forfeit four because I was so severely sleep deprived that I simply couldn't think straight anymore.

A week ago, that probably would have devastated me.

Instead, I somehow left feeling... grateful.

Every loss exposed something I can learn. Every incredible opponent reminded me just how much room I have to grow. Every game made me love this ridiculous game even more.

I don't feel discouraged.

I feel motivated.

I can see the mountain now.

I know what great Scrabble looks like.

And for the first time, I genuinely believe I can climb it.

One of my favorite things about this week was realizing that the people I admire most aren't just brilliant players. They're kind. Patient. Curious. Humble. They celebrate each other's successes. They encourage newcomers. They share knowledge freely. They care deeply about preserving this community.

That says so much.

To everyone who took the time to talk with me, analyze a game, answer my endless questions, appear in a TikTok, laugh with me, encourage me after a tough loss, or simply say hello...

Thank you.

You probably have no idea how much those moments meant.

This tournament also reminded me how much I love creating. I filmed interviews, told stories, documented moments, met fascinating people, and got to share this incredible community with thousands of people who may have never thought about competitive Scrabble before.

I think I found something I really want to keep doing.

And maybe my favorite realization of all...

I found my people.

People who get excited over words.

People who love learning.

People who happily spend an hour discussing one move on a board.

People who are wonderfully, unapologetically themselves.

As a neurodivergent person, finding spaces where you don't feel like you have to edit yourself is incredibly special.

This was one of those places.

So thank you to every organizer, volunteer, director, staff member, sponsor, and player who made Nationals what it was. Thank you to everyone who welcomed me into conversations, shared your knowledge, and made a newcomer feel like she belonged. A special thank you to Art Moore who ran the damn thing. 

And to Karen Kaminski for being my Scrabble bestie and future co-director of Space Coast Scrabble Club!

We've decided to fully incorporate our informal club. We both will take the directors' test and start throwing local tournaments! Learn more at spacecoastscrabbleclub.com 

I'm already counting the days until next year.

I'll be stronger.

I'll be better prepared.

I'll try not to cause any more fires. 

I'll probably get my own hotel room. 

And I'll definitely bring even more cameras.

But more than anything...

I can't wait to see all of you again.

Until next year, my Scrabble family. 

- Carly G.