On Feb. 11, 2021, I got the chance of a lifetime to be a contestant on the game show, “Wheel of Fortune.”

I grew up watching the show at my grandparents’ house, solving the puzzles out loud over dinner. As we watched, I often wondered what it would be like to spin the wheel and solve the puzzles myself. I loved pretending to be a contestant so much that I decided to apply for the chance to be a real one. 

Without thinking anything would come of it, I filled out an application for “Wheel of Fortune” via their website. Not long after submitting it, I received an email inviting me to audition in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2020. 

The audition consisted of practicing to play the game: calling out letters, pretending to spin the wheel and solving puzzles that were projected onto a screen. I was having so much fun, but I was afraid I wouldn’t do well enough in a room full of hopeful candidates. I wanted this chance so badly. 

I didn’t expect to hear back anytime soon. I was told the process of being called back could take anywhere from two weeks to an entire year.

For the rest of 2020, I waited patiently to hear back about my chance. Once COVID-19 hit, however, I became nervous it might never happen. I was told that applicants are typically in the “Wheel of Fortune” applicant pool for one year, and if you are unable to be featured on the show during that time, you are required to audition again.

To my great surprise, I received another email from the “Wheel of Fortune” team inviting me to be a contestant during their annual College Week. I was shocked, but excited. At the time, I was living at home in Sacramento, but immediately made plans to drive down to Culver City for the taping. 

When the day of taping finally arrived, I was ecstatic. I did have some worries about being at the studio surrounded by people during a pandemic, but before arriving on set, every contestant was tested for COVID-19 and advised not to come if they had been experiencing any symptoms related to the virus. I was pleasantly surprised and comforted by the number of precautions the staff and crew had implemented to keep us safe. Every contestant was provided two KN95 masks, hand sanitizer and wipes in a bag we carried with us all day, in addition to social distancing and mask-wearing. I felt safer on the “Wheel of Fortune” set than I had at any grocery store or restaurant. 

After we rehearsed where to stand, where to look and how loud to speak, it was finally time to bring out hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White. I hadn’t been nervous the whole day until that moment. Suddenly, everything seemed to move so quickly. All of a sudden, Sajak was standing right next to me. 

Solving the puzzles in real time, for real money, was daunting — but so much fun. I ended up solving a toss-up puzzle that read “extra-large pizza,” sending me home with $2,000. But leaving with some extra cash was not the only thing I got out of that day. 

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, I hadn’t been in a room full of college students in a long time. Having the opportunity to meet and befriend the other students made the experience more meaningful than I had expected. After we all left the studio that day, the other contestants and I created an Instagram group chat where we’ve been able to stay in contact since the episode was taped Feb. 11. I never expected to make so many new, supportive friends in one day, especially in a setting that was supposed to be a competition. 

On April 6, my episode of “Wheel of Fortune” aired. I received an outpouring of support from my friends and family, and especially my fellow college students and contestants who I get to call my new friends.