For Class of ‘24 alumna Simarya Ahuja, Quiz Bowl was never just about trivia — it was a gateway to belonging, confidence and self-discovery. What started as a simple search for a high school club became a passion that followed her all the way to the University of Washington, where she is now a freshman.
Ahuja’s journey began the summer before her freshman year at SHS, when she scrolled through a list of student organizations, hoping to find a place to fit in. Quiz Bowl stood out. She had spent years watching the trivia game show “Jeopardy!” with her mom, a nightly tradition that sparked her love of trivia. When her mom suggested that she should be on “Jeopardy!” when she got older, it inspired her to keep increasing her trivia knowledge.
“I would watch interviews of the ‘Jeopardy!’ players and a lot of them would talk about how they played Quiz Bowl in high school,” Ahuja said. “When I found out that my high school had a Quiz Bowl team, I felt like it would be a good stepping stone for me. Maybe one day I’d be playing Quiz Bowl and the next I’m on ‘Jeopardy!’.”
She joined as a freshman and quickly found a home, serving as club treasurer during her sophomore and junior years and later as club president. Despite holding leadership roles, Ahuja struggled with self-doubt. She once turned down a spot on the Nationals roster in her sophomore year because she didn’t think she was good enough — a decision she came to regret. As president in her senior year, she focused on building a welcoming, inclusive team.
“I feel like in high school Quiz Bowl, there weren’t a lot of girls,” Ahuja said. “Senior year, I sought to change that. I tried to use the qualities of my Quiz Bowl mentors and emulate them when I became club president.”
When Ahuja began attending the University of Washington last fall, she wasn’t sure if Quiz Bowl would still have a place in her life. College-level competitions are tougher, with many niche and obscure questions. After attending a recruitment event, however, she joined the team and stayed because of its supportive atmosphere. The casual, fun culture helped her regain the confidence she struggled with in high school.
She played in her first college tournament last fall, competing on a team during a novice event. She called the experience challenging but transformative.
“The more I play, the more it’s been helping with my self-confidence,” Ahuja said. “Playing Quiz Bowl tournaments has helped me grow as a person and develop confidence in my abilities as well.”
Now, Ahuja has expanded her involvement by writing Quiz Bowl questions and coaching younger students, including her younger brother’s team at Redwood Middle School. She said she enjoys watching them grow as players, and the coaching grounds her in her love for the activity.
“It’s exhilarating and thrilling to be buzzing when I know the answer and racing to get the answer before anyone else does,” Ahuja said. “It makes learning much more fun.”
