My new BF is such a QT. I cnt wait 4 U 2 meet him. UGH! ‘Rents R @round. Cnt tlk. Cal u 2moro. For anyone without an unlimited text messaging plan, this language is most likely closer to Latin than English. For Neuqua Valley Sophomore and Chicago texting champion Megan Rach, this cell phone slang was a final test of her texting ability.
“I’ve never won anything,” said Megan referring to her exhilaration after winning the first step in the competition. Megan first learned of the competition through a message sent to her by a friend on Facebook. Just as many other trivial things on Facebook, Megan did not give much thought to it. Later, Megan was reminded about the competition by her mother. With the new support, Megan logged on to KISS FM’s website where a telephone number was flashed along with the message: What goes up must come down. This time, Megan did win something. KISS FM called her back and let her know that she would be going to downtown Chicago to text for the top in the regional competition.
Father’s day would have been just like any other day for Megan if it were not for text messaging. Packed into a Verizon Wireless store in Chicago was the anticipation of a battle. “There was lots of press and huge photographers. I was like whoa!” said Megan. With thumbs ready, Meagan waited for the message to be revealed. The message was “I know what you are but what am I?” Once again, Megan proved herself to have the fastest fingers and the cameras turned towards her.
As the fastest text messager in Chicagoland, Megan was the winner of an all expense paid trip, including first class tickets, to New York City to compete in the LG National Texting Championship. The two night trip did, however, allow Megan to relax a little and take in the sites. “It was just really fun. I wasn’t really nervous.”
Placed securely in the top twelve, Megan waited patiently for the New York finals to end while she took in the reality of the situation. “The stage was huge. It was all lit up. It was ridiculous!” said Megan. “As soon as the finals were done, we were on stage dukin’ it out.”
Unfortunately, Megan was not able to claim national victory. But, on the way to the top, Megan raked in a considerable sum of prizes. The KISS FM prize included a bunch of swag and memorabilia. Winning in Chicago was the real treasure. It included first class airline tickets to New York, two nights in New York City, an enV² mobile phone, a personalized poster, and cash.
Surprisingly enough, the Midwest’s fastest texter does not even know how fast she is with her current weapon of choice, the LG Rumor. “I wish I knew a words per minute because everyone wants to know, but I have no idea,” said Megan. Despite her inability to measure her unique skill, Megan is jokingly optimistic about next year. “I’ll probably try again.”
By Jonathan Oskvarek, Echo news & web editor
