Manjula K.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about the whole day. It was one of the most fun and empowering bonding experiences I have had in a long time. The cast and crew of Wheel are a dedicated and delightful group of people, and my fellow Wheel contestants were SO friendly and outgoing. They made me look like a shy introvert! LOL!

It was a total shock when I found out I was invited to be a contestant. I’d sent in my tape about a year prior, and I had participated in the various screenings and tryouts, but I never thought I had a chance. About five weeks before what would become my tape date — and three weeks before starting a new job — I got an email inviting me to be on the show. I told my husband that the first thing we had to do was figure out how to tell my new employer I had this opportunity — without telling my new employer I had this opportunity. Awkward!!!

In terms of practicing for the show, I had been using the app for quite awhile, so I continued to do that in addition to playing a ton of Wordle and other brain puzzles. Of course I practiced by watching the show (I always watch the show), but once I was invited to be a contestant, my game-playing got really bad! My husband and daughter kept beating me on every puzzle. Apparently I was psyching myself out — too much pressure!!

We’ll be hosting a watch party with my parents, my brother and his family, my cousins, some friends and possibly the entire Melrose High School cross country team (my daughter is a team captain). Naturally, I'm working on getting a Wheel of Fortune cake with my favorite wedge pieces on it!

It’s so embarrassing, but the one moment I will NEVER forget from my experience was during one of [the contestant next to me] Kevin's spins, and I started cheering because I thought he landed on the giveaway wedge. It turned out that I was looking at the wrong spot because, actually, he had landed on Bankrupt! I never got a chance to explain what happened!!!!! So Kevin (and Pat), if you’re reading this, I would NEVER EVER cheer when someone lands on that wedge. NEVER!!!!

I'll always be haunted by the Bonus Round puzzle. I should have followed the advice the Wheel staff gave us. If I had used it, I might actually have been able to solve it, and I'll never get a second chance to use that advice again!

I plan on going as “Vanna White” for Halloween! The real Vanna was the nicest, kindest, sweetest human ever. Such an absolute honor to meet her, and I totally got teary!