Recently, my friend Lucas and I have found ourselves binge-watching on Hulu. The culprit? Survivor. It has become one of my not-so-guilty pleasures. I like how the show brings me back to simpler days. I would stay up ‘late’ with my mom on school nights to find out which contestant’s doom lay in the hands of Jeff Probst and his famous last words, “Your tribe has spoken.” I almost forgot what it was like to actually wait a full week to find out who gets voted out next… and not to mention, commercial breaks! Oh, the horror. My millennial ego tips a hat to the holy deity that is streaming service.

In case you’ve been living under a rock for two decades, ‘Survivor’ is a show that places 20 strangers on a deserted island, where they work together to scavenge for food and shelter. At the same time, the competitors work against each other to vote people out to further advance their conquest for a million dollars. The unpredictable backstabbing moves, secret alliances, and sometimes, budding romances are at fault for my tapering sleep schedule. The show has tested how long I can sit on my ass without getting off the couch for a day. Maybe if I’m feeling sporadic, I’ll get up every now and then to use the bathroom. The most intriguing thing about the show is you never quite know what the next episode has in store.  

The show reflects the elements of the human condition, especially when one’s moral concern is at question.  

The game might reveal the worst in humanity, especially after pushing a person to their limits, both physically and mentally. The combination of little food, unpredictable weather, and the overarching fear of competition obviously wears on a person. Nothing is off the table when it comes to a cash prize. My faith in humanity is only temporarily restored when some of the contestants feel remorse after breaking a chicken’s neck for dinner.

I have noticed that each winner of each season is usually the player with the most social and emotional intelligence. Those who play with violent prowess usually find themselves defeated by the more compassionate players. Those who make strong alliances, deceive less, and create social connections typically come out victorious.

Believe it or not, Survivor has helped me reflect on what it means to get ahead. As I graduate in May, I head into an unpredictable future. I am quite fearful of this realization. There is no real-life immunity idol I can play to advance in my career. I’m competing with three million other graduates entering the job force.  The job I want is my million-dollar prize.

I don’t have to be overly aggressive to get what I want. The truth is that if I stay true to myself and make connections with others, I am more likely to get ahead in this crazy world (tribe) of ours.

Survivors Ready? GO!