On May 5, 2012, the 35th annual Bloomfield Public School Chess Tournament took place at Berkeley School. Nina Kabakibi, who finished with a first place win in the 5th Grade Division, wrote about her experience for Bloomfield Patch. 

Hello! My name is Nina Kabakibi. I go to Carteret School, and I’m in the 5^th grade. One of my favorite hobbies is playing chess. Carteret School has a phenomenal chess program. Students are able to play chess from three grades levels 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th. Mrs. Pastorino is our coach and chess coordinator. Students choose to enter the program and play in their grade level against other students. I felt so confident of myself, since I won the 1^st place last year at Carteret School. After few months of practice Mrs. Pastorino picked the best three students in each grade to play for the championship against other students in Bloomfield Public Schools.

On May 5, 2012 I went to Berkley School where they held the Chess Tournament.  I was a little nervous, but I knew I had the courage to win. The Chess supervisor told us the rules, and to begin.  I played with the first student and I won. With the second student I also won. I felt overjoyed. I only had one more student to play with to go for the final. Guess what? I won!!!!!!!!!!! At the end only three of us had to play against each other to win the championship, and finally I won………THE FIRST PLACE!!!!

I felt tickled pink. I won the big trophy. I felt much honored because for many years of this program I was the first girl ever who won the first place in chess of Carteret history, and Bloomfield Public School.  When I went to school on Monday May 7, 2012 my teacher Mrs. Barbetta, Principal Mr. B, all Carteret’s teachers, and my classmates congratulated me. I was smiling ear to ear.

As a conclusion, I am willing to practice, and play harder, and keep up on winning the 1^st place, because there is no 2^nd place. As my father advised me, always go for the best and be proud of what you do.