'Survivor' Winner Helps Stamford Students Get Ready For College

From College for Every Student.

On January 9, College For Every Student alumna Sophie Clarke, and winner of the CBS hit reality television series Survivor, spoke to hundreds of students from Cloonan Middle and Hart Elementary Schools about her pathway to medical school and what students can do now to prepare for careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

“If something is hard for you, chances are it’s hard for everyone in the room,” Clarke told Scholars, who are all part of the College For Every Student STEM program, funded by the GE Foundation.

“Believe in yourself. And never be afraid to try new things even if you are not the best at them. You never know what you’ll be great at, until you try.”

Clarke’s visit is one of many Scholar-led talks in a series of CFES STEM roundtables.

“The idea is to give Scholars the opportunity to talk to various STEM professionals and ask questions about their schooling, their careers,” said Cloonan’s Assistant Principal Larueen Mody. “Today was such an inspiring experience for our Scholars. From meeting Sophie, hearing her story, and hanging on to her encouraging words.”

Scholars also asked Clarke about medical school and her latest adventure, working behind the scenes of the Dr. Oz show.

“Being from a small rural town, in a class size of 28, I realized that I not only had to take every opportunity given to me, but I also had to create my own,” Clarke said pointedly.

Clarke reminded Scholars that a college education is very important in today’s economy and it’s important to start paving their paths now.