Wearing his winner’s shirt hours after the final round, Faizan Zaki was still soaking in his triumph as the newest Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. “I’m still trying to process that I’m a champion,” said Faizan, a 13-year-old from Allen and who goes to Plano ISD schools. After finishing second last year, he returned with fierce determination, learning 4,000 words a day. But the intense preparation came at a cost. Faizan hit burnout in April, between the regional competition and Scripps. What helped him push through? Encouragement from his dad. “It was something along the lines of ‘you’re the best speller and you can do anything,’ and that really motivated me,” Faizan shared. FULL STORY: https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/dfw-teen-faizan-zaki-wins-scripps-national-spelling-bee/287-0c21fa97-0848-424c-aae2-88586e04dc96