‘Survivor’ provides survival skills for a lifetime

There are not many shows in the television world that last for 30 seasons on the air. In fact, the only show that comes up when you search “30 seasons on the air” on Google is “Survivor.”

“Survivor” made its Season 1 premiere on May 31, 2000. At that time, I was five years old.  I do not remember watching that first season, or any of the earlier seasons really, but my dad and I have watched every episode of “Survivor” since that first one.

“Survivor’s” Season 30 is starting at the end of this month and you can bet your immunity idol I’ll be watching the episode at least twice to fully analyze the show.

In case you’ve never watched an episode of “Survivor,” the show is about 16 contestants who get stranded in a remote location. The contestants are split into either two or three tribes. Each tribe starts off the season with a bag of rice and a water well at the camp. The castaways are required to start a fire and build a shelter, usually before the first day is over.

The tribes then compete in challenges, sometimes for rewards, sometimes for immunity. When one tribe wins immunity, the other tribe is sent to tribal council. This is where we hear, “The tribe has spoken,” as they vote out one member of the tribe.

When there are about 10 castaways left, the tribes merge to form one team. Then they compete to win individual immunity and the entire tribe goes to tribal council. The only one safe from tribal council is the one wearing the immunity necklace.

At the end of the 39 days, the jury, consisting of people voted out after the merge, vote on one of three people remaining who they think should win the million dollars. At the final tribal council, the jury is supposed to vote on the person who outwits, outlasts, and outplays the best game.

One of the taglines for the show “Survivor” is “Outwit, outlast, outplay.”

Outwit: Castaways have to promote themselves and show how they are needed on the tribe. But if castaways overly promote themselves, they run the risk of a.) Making people mad at them or b.) Making themselves into a threat that has to be taken out.

Outlast: You can’t win the game if you don’t make it to the finale. To make it there, castaways form alliances with others. This alliance then votes together to get others out and better their chances of making it to the finale. They usually end up blindsiding or backstabbing members of the alliance to make their way to final tribal council.

Outplay: The winner of “Survivor” is not supposed to be someone who finds their way to the end by “riding coat tails.” They have to make plays, vote people out, and strategize.

Lessons learned from watching “Survivor,” or being on “Survivor” (which I plan to do in the future), can be related to life outside of the TV.

Castaways form alliances to get themselves farther in the game. In life, we form friendships with people who are going to support us and go with us farther in life.

At the beginning of the 39 days, contestants learn how to work as a team and later they have to fight for themselves, though. Similar to life, sometimes you will have people on your team who can help you out and other times you have to learn to fend for yourself.

Another aspect of “Survivor” is Exile Island. Occasionally, one castaway is sent to Exile Island where they have to spend a couple nights completely isolated from the rest of the contestants. This could also relate to real life because as you grow up, you learn sometimes you won’t have people around to help you out. You have to learn how to pick yourself up.

The castaways have to promote themselves without bragging. When applying for a job, people have to be able to “talk themselves up,” but if it comes across as bragging, they probably won’t be getting a call about the job.

Survivor is 39 days long, but it teaches lessons that can last a lifetime.