Sonya C.

I grew up watching Wheel of Fortune with my grandparents, whom I call Ammama and Thatha. We would tune in together almost every night and take turns calling out the puzzles and predicting which contestant we believed would make it to the Bonus Round and win. These represent some of the happiest memories with my Ammama and Thatha.

Last summer, we very suddenly lost my Ammama, it was such an unexpected loss, and my Thatha and I have truly been leaning on one another. So, we of course returned to our special ritual of watching Wheel of Fortune together every night--this show has been such a source of shared healing and joy in our home.

As we would solve the puzzles together, my Thatha would urge me to go on the show for him. This spring, I finally decided to submit an audition video without any expectation of it manifesting into more. The day I found out I would be competing on this show, I knew so deeply my Ammama had made this happen for us and it was such a happy day for our family. Most of all, my Thatha was so overjoyed--it was a true dream come true.

So, even though I could not deliver on my Million Dollar opportunity (that puzzle "Original Broadway Cast" will stay with me forever 😂), it was an extraordinary experience being a part of a show that has meant so much to my Thatha and to me. And maybe someday, I'll have the great opportunity to redeem myself on Wheel of Fortune and, more importantly, to have my Thatha with me in the audience, watching me compete live.