By Tiffny Rhodius
What is one word that describes the new National Scrabble Champion Abigail McDonald? You could use simple or grounded and then there is humble as well as passionate. Abigail, as could be expected, uses several words, “Someone who is not afraid to go out and get what I want.” No double or triple-point words in that sentence, but it certainly sums up the 28-year-old whose life is surrounded with scrabble, music, church and family.
Family life
Abigail who is the youngest of four children is of the belief that her family is a tremendous part of who she is and that the support that she has received from them makes her able to do just about anything she sets her mind to. The assured young lady believes that the family, particularly the nuclear family is understated these days. “The value of the nuclear family is still understated. You are more able to overcome with that sort of structure.”
Growing up in Prashad Nagar, in what she said was a pretty quiet environment Abigail got hooked on scrabble at the age of 13. She said that most of her free time these days are spent preparing for scrabble competitions.
However when she isn’t working hard to master her sport which she is passionate about, she is giving her time in assisting the Sisters of Mercy which is an international community of Roman Catholic women who have vowed to serve people who suffer from poverty, sickness and lack of education with a special concern for women and children.
“God and religion play an important part in my life,” Abigail said explaining that she gained tremendous support through prayers and motivation while she was competing in the recent scrabble competition that saw her becoming the national champion. Abigail attends Our Lady of Fatima Church.
Music
Do you remember who the third place winner of the first ever Cellink Jingle competition was? If you guessed Abigail McDonald then you are correct. “Music is a big part of who I am,” she told The Scene. “I am somewhat of an introvert and I thought about entering but I needed an extra push.” She got her push from her siblings to enter which she eventually did but she said that it was a very last-minute decision.
Abigail said that she had enjoyed the competition for what it was and is following this year’s competition keenly. Commenting on this year’s competition and the first prize, she joked, “I think I entered too early; if I only waited.” But on a serious note she said, “I have no regrets there.”
Abigail who already has a favourite in this year’s competition said, “It’s clear that Guyanese are talented and nothing like a car to bring out more people.”
Her love for music she believes was inspired by her early involvement with music. Abigail has been a part of her church choir since she was nine and her family is musically inclined as well. “Music has the ability to express what I am feeling and if the music speaks to my heart I go for it.”
Scrabble
Another passion of this multitalented young lady is scrabble. She took up the game since she was 13 and has stuck with it ever since.
So what is it like to be known as the national scrabble champion? “It’s a fantastic feeling,” was Abigail’s response. However, she said that it is also a lot of pressure. Why? She feels that she is not the “face” of a scrabble champion. And what is the face of a scrabble champion? She explains, “The face of a scrabble champion to me is one who is vastly intellectual, older and male, based on what I’ve seen.”
Well as national champion Abigail has already taken care of the first requirement and in so doing has decisively blasted the second two stereotypes. She further disproved her own theory, by stating, “Pressure is self imposed; at the end of the day it’s how you deal with it.”
Abigail who is currently a part of a committee that is working towards launching scrabble in schools pointed out that the benefits of sports in general are far reaching. “Scrabble has done a lot for me and I think it can benefit young people in a lot of ways besides building vocabulary. It builds confidence, the sense of being involved in something worthwhile; it puts you out there,” she said of the game.
Abigail believes that it is necessary for young people to find an outlet for growth and validation “especially for kids coming from broken homes” and she feels that their involvement in sports can help them get there.
Abigail, who is a self-employed graphic artist, encourages young people to “have fun, be active, be safe and remember that adversity is a necessary part of living. It’s how we’ll you bounce back from those moments that can prove your worth, so always keep pressing on and remember to let God be a lively part of your life.”
