Bellarmine alumnus Austin L. Coon ’14 is a contestant on the CBS series, Survivor, which begins its 45th season on September 27.
Not wanting to provide any spoilers about how the season unfolds, Austin cannot reveal much about the experience, but in a recent email exchange with Bellarmine, he indicated that he has long been a fan of the program. “I only started getting really into the show towards the end of 2019, but have since watched pretty much every single episode,” he noted. “My mom has been a massive fan since the original season aired in 2000 and is the reason why I got interested in the show in the first place. We've talked strategy and various game scenarios pretty much daily ever since I started watching. Definitely helped me prepare for actually being on the show!”
Austin fondly recalls his years as a Bell and even gives partial credit to the school for preparing him for what it takes to be a contestant on Survivor. “Bellarmine was a huge focal point in my life, as the adjustment from my public middle school to the rigorous, all-boys, Catholic college prep was quite difficult for me,” he wrote. “Freshman year was probably the most shy/self-conscious point of my life because I was surrounded by such bright, confident peers and I had major Imposter Syndrome. However, overcoming this and building myself up was vital in getting me to a point where I could successfully apply and compete on the show. Bellarmine holds its students to high standards, which has stuck with me ever since. Bellarmine also encouraged me to dream big and to deliberately search for difficult/uncomfortable experiences because overcoming these moments leads to the most growth and fulfillment. I am grateful for all the opportunities that Bellarmine gave me-- from the top-notch volleyball program (being successful in volleyball injected me with the confidence I needed to succeed in other aspects of my life) to the constant exposure to incredibly talented and bright students and faculty.”
We wish Austin all the best during his competition on Survivor and in all his endeavors. Go Bells!