Edwin S.

This truly was a dream come true for me. I’ve been watching this show ever since I was a little boy, back when I was just learning how to read, write, and speak English. It wasn’t long before I started solving some of the easier puzzles, and soon enough, I became a true fan of the show.

When I found out I had made it onto the show, I could hardly believe it. My heart was racing, and I had the biggest smile stretching from ear to ear! That same day, I downloaded the Wheel of Fortune app and began practicing every single day—playing on the app, watching the show religiously, and even studying YouTube videos.

The day of the show was, without a doubt, one of the best days of my life. I met the most wonderful people and even made lifelong friends with my fellow contestants (shoutout to Noelle and Shawn!). Spinning the Wheel, calling out letters, and solving a puzzle was all I needed to fulfill my dream—and yet, I got so much more than that.

Not only did I spin the Wheel and call out letters—I landed on a Disney Cruise wedge, lost it on a Bankrupt spin, landed on the Mystery wedge, picked it up and got Bankrupt again, called a letter that wasn’t on the board, attempted to solve a puzzle and got it wrong, and was a millisecond away from clicking the buzzer on a Triple Toss-Up opportunity that would have sent me to the Bonus Round!!! What a ride! :)

To celebrate this momentous occasion, two of my closest friends are coming over to my house to watch the show with me, my wife, and my daughter. We’re having our own watch party!

Last but not least—what does Wheel mean to me?

Wheel holds a truly special place in my heart. You’ve probably heard the story I shared about watching the show for the first time without even knowing the language—that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how deep my bond with it goes. It has been a constant presence in my life, a staple of my weekday evenings for as long as I can remember. Sure, there were months or even years when I didn’t watch as much, especially as I got older—but somehow, it always found its way back to me.

Even during those times when I wasn’t actively watching, Wheel was still there—on in the background as I worked on homework, stayed up late on a project for work, or simply went about my day. Like a lifelong friend, we may have drifted apart at times, but we always found our way back to each other.

Thank you, Wheel of Fortune!