A-K-E-E-L-A-H...Akeelah.

Today I had a great opportunity. My good friend Jen teaches the Communications 11 course at our school and she decided to take her class on a field trip to see this new movie, Akeelah and the Bee. You might have heard about it if you drink Starbucks at all...advertising for it has been plastered all over their stores for months. At first I wasn't sure if I would see it or not. I had seen the documentary film, Spellbound, and although I liked it I thought that one spelling bee movie was enough for me.

I began to hear great things about the Bee, though. When Jen informed me that she was taking her class to it, I thought, why not? There was a girl that needed a ride to the showing because she couldn't leave at the same time as her class due to another commitment. Jen also needed another chaperone so I was the lucky one that got to go!

If you get the chance, see this movie! Although some parts of it are a little predictable, it will warm your heart in a way that I haven't had happen at a movie in quite awhile. With the movie drought that has been going on lately it was wonderful to go to a movie that had an interesting story line. Perhaps part of the reason I loved it so much was that I could see so many of my former California students in the characters in the movie. I sometimes wonder where they are and what they are doing, and I hope that they continue to have good influences in their lives, just as Akeelah had in the movie.

If you get the chance, see this movie. If you can't go to it, rent it when it comes out. You won't regret it!