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Not to sound harsh, but if you’re not totally psyched for the Scripps National Spelling Bee starting May 28, then you’re doing it wrong.

In a five-day-long extravaganza composed of both preliminary and final rounds, 277 spellers will try to advance each step by piecing together some of the most complex, nuanced and just plain odd-sounding words the English language has to offer.

It’s a competition so intense that ESPN airs it. Last year, 13 year-old Arvind Mahankali won by spelling “knaidel,” a word not exactly part of the American vernacular.

One of these spellers is Kiana Jaz Lacroix from Idaho, a student at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy. An unsurprisingly voracious reader, Kiana won her regional spelling bee in 36 rounds that originally included 50 others at North Idaho College.

Kiana joins students who come from a wide range of schools, whether they are traditional, charter, virtual, parochial or home. This makes for a positively diverse crowd of students who have acquired a thirst for learning – and spelling – through their unique educational experiences.

Everything about the Bee makes for a heartwarming event where kids reaching for their dreams ceases to be an abstract concept. In fact, taking a respite to scroll through the personal stories of each Bee participant proves to be a very inspirational exercise.

Best of luck to all the young spellers in their quest for V-i-c-t-o-r-y.