Junior Jackson Pschierer brings a television show’s community and challenges to campus. In fall 2024, it became evident that junior Jackson Pschierer’s passion for the reality TV show, “Survivor” extended beyond casual watching. He dedicated himself to studying its strategies, social dynamics and twists. Pschierer found that “Survivor” had evolved into a significant part of his life; he watched every season, analyzing how contestants navigated alliances and challenges. He traveled to Nashville for a fan meetup on Sept. 14, where he connected with other superfans and former contestants, bringing his “Survivor” experience to a new level. “I went to Nashville, and it was the most surreal experience because I got to meet a bunch of other superfans,” Pschierer said. “It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing . . . I met people who I had only seen on TV, and just seeing them in real life was surreal.” On campus, Pschierer turned his enthusiasm for the show into “Harding Survivor,” a student-led version of “Survivor” designed to bring the same spirit of competition and community to Harding. Originally a casual idea, the game quickly attracted students who enjoyed the mix of strategy and social gameplay. “I made ‘Harding Survivor’ kind of like a joke at first, but then a bunch of people ended up wanting to join,” Pschierer said. “It was a way to combine my love for the show and my love for creating games and competitions for people to enjoy.” His roommate, junior Max De Loach, witnessed Pschierer’s “Survivor” obsession first hand. “Jackson had watched every season and could name nearly every contestant if asked,” De Loach said. “For years, I watched him play as if his own life were on the line in various Roblox versions of “Survivor.” Jackson’s love for “Survivor” transcended all shame that some lesser fans may have carried as a result of their love for the show.” Harding Survivor Junior Chris Beller, a close friend and participant in “Harding Survivor,” noted the impact the game has had on campus. “I thought ‘Harding Survivor’ was a great idea,” Beller said. “It offered an opportunity to get to know lots of people around campus and compete in some really fun challenges. Also, considering that Jackson was the one putting it on, I thought it would really show not only how much he loved “Survivor” but how good he was at engaging campus and bringing people together.” Pschierer took his passion further by applying to be a contestant on “Survivor” multiple times, hoping to test his skills on the actual show. De Loach believed Pschierer had the qualities necessary to succeed. “Not only did I believe that Jackson would make a good “Survivor” candidate, I knew that he would be among the best that ever played,” De Loach said. “Jackson was hilarious, analytical and highly social. He was someone who could walk into a room and instantly energize it. I was confident that Jackson would not only be good for television or the audience, but he would become America’s newest heartthrob.” For Pschierer, “Survivor” became about more than entertainment. It shaped his approach to relationships and problem-solving. “It’s taught me a lot about people and how they interact when they’re put in challenging situations,” Pschierer said. “You learn how to read people and adapt. It’s a game about relationships and trust, and that’s something that goes beyond the show.” Through “Harding Survivor” and his goal of competing on the real show, Pschierer committed to applying the lessons he learned from “Survivor” to his own life, which created new experiences and connected him with others on and off campus. Written by Aja Griffin 140 People
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