Kat Kinsman went to the National Spelling Bee at age 13 in 1986 . Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos Now she was with kids who lived for language play , lovely books , good grades . Kat did n't win trophy , but won a friend who kind of understood her .
Kat Kinsman went to the National Spelling Bee at age 13 in 1986 . Back home , she was an outsider with light-socket perm , train track braces . Now she was with kids who lived for language play , lovely books , good grades . Kat did n't win trophy , but won a friend who kind of understood her .