Carolyn O.

OMG! Nostalgia, trivia, Ryan, Vanna, OH MY! Being a contestant on Wheel of Fortune was a lifelong dream of fun! There are certain things that represent the most joyful displays of community, life, and excitement — and for my family, Wheel of Fortune is just that. A game show that showcases so many different facets of America. One that's truly wholesome, allows contestants to share their wins with their family, and lets them speak about what they do and what they're passionate about. It's just really all good — and I was finally a part of it.

I used to watch with my family, particularly my dad, Harold Owens. As he's no longer with us, being on Wheel of Fortune was an opportunity for me to continue to process his loss, but also celebrate all the wonderful memories and smiles we shared watching the show over the years. I'm excited to see my episode — and of course, receive my winnings!

More than that, I was so happy to be in a room with so many other enthusiastic Wheel of Fortune fans. The energy in the room, the smiles, the stories, and the genuine people — both behind the camera and among us fellow contestants — was just a dream come true. After my episode was taped, I had to leave because I was getting emotional and needed to be alone. There's such a high doing the show, and coming down from it is hard and quick. The longest and shortest 20 minutes of my life, for sure!

As for how I prepared, again, my father's routines took center stage. He always did Logic Puzzles magazines with me, so I did that for a couple of weeks before my brain started to overload. As the tape date got closer, I just told myself to have fun — that whatever would happen would be good, and that my father would be watching. I do feel this way. My millions will come from elsewhere, but this experience was priceless!

Thank you to the entire team at Wheel of Fortune — it was truly an awesome day I will never forget.