In the history of “Survivor,” there has never been a contestant named Kate, but Kate Weaver is determined to be the first, according to the audition video she submitted this January. In the video, Weaver demonstrates the top ten reasons she should be on the show, and in the process she is attacked by a chicken — Weaver detests birds — climbs over a fence on the second take, and eats a three-week-old doughnut. “I’m not a risk taker, and I’m taking a risk by going on the show,” Weaver says for reason number ten, taking a bite out of the doughnut. She smiles, shrugs, and gives a thumbs up. “Okay, I’m ready for Survivor.”
Weaver is a senior English Education major at EMU. As a serious student, a Shakespeare lover, and an introvert, Weaver might be the last person one would expect to audition for “Survivor.” She smiles with her whole face when excited, and hides behind her hair when embarrassed. If people point out that she is relational, Weaver’s voice raises an octave: “What?” she says, clinging to her chair. “No, no, no, I’m an introvert. That word makes me want to go crawl in a hole with my books.”
“I may not be intimidating,” Weaver said, “but I know how to play the game.” She can form alliances and read group dynamics. Teamwork and respect: These are the attributes that “make it to the merge.” When asked how she feels about the manipulation and lying that comes with the show, Weaver wrinkled her nose and said, “Okay, yeah, I’m a horrible liar.”
Weaver’s friends support her assessment. On some weekends, Weaver plays “Avalon,” a role-playing game in the world of King Arthur where players must convince each other they are “good.” Whenever Weaver plays, opponents notice when she is bluffing. “Oh, looks like Kate’s bad again,” senior Josh Kratz can proclaim, with accuracy, two minutes into gameplay.
Weaver’s housemate, senior Stephanie Slabach Brubaker, admires her excitement for life. “Everything Kate does, she does to the fullness of her ability. If she has a dream, like being on ‘Survivor,’ she goes for it. She’s willing and eager to take risks without fear of the consequences.”
Getting on the show is not the be-all-end-all for Weaver; she has other aspirations outside of the show which would win out should “Survivor” call her at an inopportune moment. Weaver wants to teach English, pursuing her lifelong passion for literature and reading, all of which Weaver holds a strong opinion. “If someone says they don’t like one of my favorite books or one of my favorite movies, I will debate with them for a long time about why my book is awesome and why their opinion is wrong.” Without hesitation, her favorite authors rolled off her tongue: Jodi Picoult and John Green.
Oh, and Shakespeare, she added later. “I love Shakespeare. I am very, very passionate about Shakespeare. All and everything Shakespeare. I love Shakespeare.”
Junior Allie Sawyer, one of Weaver’s previous classmates, described Weaver as someone with infectious joy. “I am incredibly relieved to have her in as many classes as I do because I wouldn’t survive if it were not for Kate,” Sawyer said. “Even on a bad day, she makes the material fun, and helps me remember why I love English Education as much as I do.”
Next year, Weaver will be working with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)’s Serving and Learning Together (SALT) program in Managua, Nicaragua. There, she will work as an education assistant at a school for deaf children. After her 11-month term of service, Weaver wants to find a job teaching English, most likely somewhere in Virginia. She is excited about the opportunity to combine two of her passions: teaching and exploring life abroad.
If she wins “Survivor,” Weaver will use the million dollar prize to travel the world. Her audition video gives her love of travel as reason number three: “I was born in Jerusalem, I lived in Palestine, I lived in Jordan, I’ve been to Japan, I’ve been to Guatemala, I’ve been to Cuba, and now I’m ready for Survivor.”
