Balancing band, baseball and bees: 2023 NM State Spelling Bee champion prepares to defend his title

Mar. 17—Inside Keith Lee's head lives thousands of words — including definitions and origins.

The seventh-grade student at Albuquerque Academy lives in a world which requires balance.

Along with his general studies, he's in jazz band, on the baseball team and studies for the upcoming New Mexico State Spelling Bee.

In 2023, Lee was the winner and was sent to Washington, D.C., to represent the state in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

"Last year, I dedicated two to three hours each night to practice. However, now, the seventh-grade coursework demands more of my time," Lee says. "Between frequent baseball practice and weekend matches, I've had to adjust my study routine. These days, I find myself squeezing in spelling preparation during my commute and right before bedtime. Compared to last year, my overall preparation time has indeed decreased."

Lee got a first-hand education in the spelling bee world when he was in Washington, D.C., last year.

"During the national competition, I keenly observed numerous individuals who were well-prepared or had years of experience in competing," Lee says. "Being in that environment, I gained valuable competition skills and came to the realization that there are still several aspects where I need to strengthen and improve. My aspiration is to once again step onto the national stage, and I fervently hope to achieve even better results for myself."

Lee has competed in spelling bees for three years — beginning when he was in fifth grade.

As he gets older, he's gained experience and skills.

"As my reading depth and breadth expand, my ability to understand and analyze words truly improves," he says. "However, there are still many words I have never encountered and don't understand. I believe that once you decide to participate in a spelling bee competition, you cannot cease the cycle of learning new words and memorizing them. So, even with age and experience, I don't feel it becomes easier."

As a seventh grader, it's difficult to split his time and find balance.

"Many times, I find it difficult to focus on homework or prepare for competitions," he says. "I also feel tempted to watch videos, play video games, or chat with friends. Fortunately, my parents remind me to prioritize tasks, discuss the order of completion, and create a schedule. I aspire to achieve perfection in everything, but the constraints of time make it truly challenging. Nevertheless, I give my best effort in everything I undertake."

Lee says his days are a whirlwind of learning, sports and preparation.

Each day kicks off with an hour of jazz band before starting his day at school.

Once the regular classes are done, he jumps into middle school baseball team practice, which takes place four days a week.

Then he's off to his club ball team practice, which keeps him busy until 7:30 p.m.

If there's a math competition, he will prioritize that over the school team practice.

By the time he gets home, he's ready to dedicate about two hours to homework before winding down around 10 p.m.

"I have a passion for baseball, and my dream is to follow in the footsteps of our Albuquerque Academy alumnus, Alex Bregman, by becoming a professional baseball player," Lee says. "When I've been immersed in my studies for a while, there's nothing better than doing batting practice, working on my pitching, or dedicating time to strength training. These activities not only help me unwind physically, but also provide a mental escape."