After being voted off CBS鈥� hit show Survivor: One World, Kat Edorsson returned to the 麻豆原创 campus last semester ready to take on a full-time class schedule, a demanding job in sales and all of the criticism she was sure would come her way once the show aired.
Edorsson, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies, a degree she will use to start a real estate business in Miami or Fort Lauderdale. For now, she works as a timeshare sales representative and has her sights set on more reality television.
鈥淚 was fine before Survivor, I didn鈥檛 plan to try out for reality TV but I was looking for something new. 鈥� This [Survivor] was the best thing I could do to change my life around,鈥� Edorsson said. 鈥淚 love sports and fitness and love to be around people. Survivor is the biggest challenge you could manage, so I did it.鈥�
In its 24th season, Survivor had contestants competing in Upolu, Samoa, for a chance to win $1 million. Survivor, a game known for being brutal to its contestants and entertaining to its audience, gave Edorsson an opportunity to prove her abilities and discover her comedic side.
鈥淎pparently, people think I鈥檓 funny. I became known as 鈥榯he clown,鈥欌�� Edorsson said. 鈥淩e-watching myself on TV, I was even laughing.鈥�
Being voted off was no laughing matter. The tribal council kept her on after a close call in the second show, but Edorsson鈥檚 game came to an end after she was blindsided in the 12th episode. She was originally planning to blindside tribemate Sabrina Thompson and was surprised to see the tribe turn against her instead.
鈥淚 definitely think I played a great game, but the choices I made weren鈥檛 as great,” Edorsson said. “Not entertaining Troy鈥檚 idea when I should have wasn鈥檛 a good thing, and not talking to Sabrina didn鈥檛 help.鈥�
Although she was voted off, she still says she feels like a winner.
鈥淚 went out as a threat, not a weak player,” she said. “I feel like I had a great attitude. I wish I could do better, but I feel like I did good.
鈥溾�� I went out there hoping I鈥檇 change the person I am, and [in] every episode, you see me change. The last thing you saw in tribal council is you saw how much I learned and changed. I matured a lot and am very thankful.鈥�
Life on campus hasn鈥檛 changed much for Edorsson, although she says many students stare at her wondering if she鈥檚 “that girl from Survivor.鈥�
鈥淵es, it鈥檚 me, and I want people to come talk and tell me how they feel [about the show],鈥� Edorsson said. 鈥淚 really hope Orlando is proud of how I played the game and that I represented 麻豆原创 well.鈥�
After her experience on the show, Edorsson says she would love to play Survivor again.
鈥淚 might have plans to audition for other things,鈥� Edorsson said. 鈥淚鈥檇 love to do Dancing with the Stars, mind you you鈥檇 have to actually be a star and I鈥檓 not really a star, but still.鈥�
With no set plans but high hopes of being part of shows like Big Brother or Amazing Race, Edorsson says we should be on the lookout for her again.
鈥淭his is definitely not the last time you鈥檒l see me on national TV,鈥� Edorsson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 there for the challenge and for the game, and apparently people think I鈥檓 funny, so why not.鈥�