Do You Know More About Geography Than a Middle Schooler?

If you'd asked Rachel Henry a couple years ago whether she was interested in geography, she would have given you a resounding "No."

Fast-forward two years, and Rachel, 14, is ready to represent Cinnaminson Middle School in the state finals of the National Geographic Bee at Rowan University Friday. 

Rachel attributes her unexpected interest in the subject to a geography course she took at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University two years ago. It also doesn't hurt that her family logs a lot of frequent-flyer miles.

"It's nice to learn about something in a book, but it's always better to be there," said Rachel's mother, Elise, who noted that the family is taking a trip to Europe this summer.

"We definitely encourage the kids' learning as much as we can," Elise added.

Rachel, an eighth-grader, earned her spot in the state finals by besting a number of other students in the seventh and eighth grade classes at the middle school, followed by a written test in which she scored among the top 100 in the state. 

In order to make it to the national finals in May, Rachel will have to beat 99 other students from across New Jersey. Unlike most of her classmates—who have been spending their spring breaks relaxing—Rachel has been poring over books lent to her by teachers, consuming information online and studying with flash cards in preparation for the Bee.

"I feel alright," she said Thursday about her confidence level heading into the competition, though she admitted, with 99 other students vying for the same prize, "the odds are against me."

"I'm really excited, of course," she said. "But I'm also very anxious."

Rachel credited her teachers with helping her get to this point, in particular elementary school teacher Elaine Mendelow and middle school teachers Garwood Bacon and Daniel Fourney. 

The national finals for the National Geographic Bee will be held May 20-22 in Washington, D.C. The competition will be emceed by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. 

Go here for more information on the National Geographic Bee.

Leave some words of encouragement for Rachel in the comments below.