Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Survival of the Fittest

Charles Nailen/The Hoya “Survivor: Australia” winner Tina Wesson speaks about her experiences with reality television in ICC Auditorium Wednesday evening.

Self-proclaimed adventurer and soccer mom Tina Wesson, the ultimate survivor of “Survivor: The Australian Outback,” gave advice and talked strategy with Georgetown students Wednesday night in ICC. Looking healthy and rested, in contrast to her six weeks foray in the outback, Wesson had the opportunity to reflect on her struggle against her fellow castaways for one million dollars.

Wesson’s trial began long before meeting Jeff Probst and facing the probing eye of reality television. Growing up in Tennessee, Wesson had an illustrious family tradition to follow. As she realized early on, however, Tina was neither born nor raised to follow anyone. As she matured, the future mother and wife had to make a difficult decision.

“It was tough telling my parents that instead of inheriting the business that had been in my family for three generations I wanted to go to [the University of] Tennessee and major in Recreation,” Wesson said.

Although recreation was and still is an important part of this survivor’s life, Tina always focused on two important areas: competition and social work. These two major focuses of her life suited her very well for the social competition of “Survivor.” The physical competitive spirit that drives her to compete in triathlons gave her the pain tolerance that would bring her body back from the rugged outback.

Always out to win, but never lacking in kindness, Wesson fostered her compassion as a nurse after college. Her care for the sick and concern for peopleothers gave her a social grace that made it difficult for her fellow competitors to vote her off the island.

Yet, before votes were ever cast, Wesson had to deal with the casting process, a sequence of events nearly as anxiety-inducing as the tribal council. She heard about the first episode of “Survivor” from a friend, loved the concept and decided to start watching television only to see this new show. Midway through the first season, the casting call for Australia came out and Wesson, with the full support of her family, joined about 50,000 others and applied.

She thought the two parts of her personality would earn her her goal, a weeklong trip to Los Angeles as a member of the finalist group of 50, and decided to make an ambitious video to send to producers.

“I climbed into a tree in our backyard and my husband put the trampoline out of sight below,” Wesson said. “I was reaching for a piece of fruit and all you could see was me falling. It faded out and then I stood there with my arm in a sling.”

She didn’t really hurt herself, but Wesson hoped the casting directors would understand that she meant business. At the same time, she easily communicated her sense of humor to the powers at CBS.

Wesson’s spirit was enough to advance her to a regional interview in Pittsburgh, which she approached at a simple level and did what she could to move to the final.

“I thought for sure I wouldn’t make it,” Wesson said. “I was way too honest.”

Apparently her honest answers were what the casting directors wanted and she earned her trip West. Los Angeles, however, proved to be more of a trial than a vacation.

“They had us all sequestered in our hotel rooms for two weeks,” Wesson said. “For an active person like me it was a nightmare.”

The most engaging part of the stay was her interviews with the show’s psychologists, Wesson said. She came to understand that “Survivor” was looking for specific types of people. Now she only needed to fit one of these molds. “The psychologist told me that I was `the silent rebel,'” Wesson said.

This model seemed to fit for Wesson, but it took the producers a few days to come around. “They originally picked another Mom from the Midwest,” Wesson said. “I called my husband and he insisted that I should just wait, they would call me back.”

While Wesson didn’t originally share her husband’s confidence, it only took one phone call from the show to lift her spirits.

“The other woman was indecisive about skydiving into the outback and leaving her children for so long,” Wesson said. “They didn’t want anyone who wasn’t sure.”

Willing to skydive and do quite a bit more, Wesson headed for the outback and was ready to win. After spending dozens of days down under, Wesson learned three things about winning “Survivor.” It takes luck, logistics and social relations.

Luck is perhaps the most important factor, and Wesson’s luck seemed to come all at once. Her position stood in quite a bit of jeopardy just before the merger. Mitchell refused to vote against his alliance and, by aligning with Colby, Tina made the move that won her the game. The two voted off Mitchell instead of Keith and the rest was history.

“Colby was my main ally from then on,” Wesson said. “Even at the end.”

Logistically, Wesson needed to maintain the strategy she used at the beginning. She maintained her careful alliances and didn’t let the boredom of the outback bring her down. Adapting to tribe members as they changed was also an important part of her plan.

She placed great importance on these two elements, but said the social part of the game is what separates first and second place.

“You have to get along with people to win,” Wesson said. “The most brilliant part of this game is that you have to make the people that you voted off like you in order to win.”

Maintaining this social balance came naturally to Wesson from her previous experience as a mother, nurse and wife. The road to earning the million dollars had its personal and physiological drawbacks, especially in terms of food shortage. Nevertheless Wesson made it through and maintains a humble, positive attitude about the experience.

“It was just one bad camping trip,” Wesson said.

After talking about “Survivor,” Wesson imparted advice to Georgetown students.

“These are absolutely the best years of your life, take advantage,” Wesson said. “Life is an adventure and you have no idea where it might lead, so take chances.”

Wesson also suggested that Georgetown had its own version of “Survivor.”

“I just went on a camping trip,” Wesson said. “That 99 Days thing y’all do at the Tombs, that takes stamina.”

The event was sponsored by the Georgetown University Lecture Fund and the Georgetown Program Board.

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