[During] spring of junior year I noticed that there was an online test to be on ‘Jeopardy!’, so I took note of the time, and took it. I got an e-mail invitation a few weeks later for a try-out in Boston — but that time interfered with my hydrogeology class. When I asked my teacher, Anna Martini, if it was okay to miss class to try-out, she said yes and laughed. She laughed because she also received a try-out time, but couldn’t go because she had to teach our hydro lab. She wished me luck, and told me to go. Try-outs in Boston were fun; we took a written test (50 questions on various things), and did some mock interviews to see if we had personalities. They then said that we might get a call in the next 18 months, but that only about 20 percent of people who try out get calls. I got a call about five months later, while I was tutoring in Hampshire County Jail. After some calls back, they told me that if I could make it to the L.A. studio on the Tuesday of October break, I’d be on the show. I booked some flights, and that was that.

When was it all taped? Was it tiring to tape multiple shows in a row?

I got there on [Oct.] 14th. They film a week of shows (five) in one day. I got randomly selected for the second show filmed (which, therefore, aired on a Tuesday). I won the first game, won the second, got a lunch break, then won the next two. After about four hours of work, I’d made $114,000. My accomplishment hit me as I walked out of the studio after the first day and all the audience members applauded for me and one or two asked for an autograph. I slept that night, and came back the next day to film the ‘next week’s’ shows. I lost on the first show I filmed. I didn’t think it was tiring to film all those shows in a row — I actually felt that I got to get into a real groove, not just thinking but on timing the buzzer system.

How did you first become interested in the show?

I’ve watched it on and off for a while, but began watching it regularly freshman year. I would switch off between watching it competitively with Ryan Peeks ’09 in South, and watching for fun with Amy Liu ‘09 in my home dorm of Stearns. Amy was the first one to suggest I try out, and Ryan ended up helping a lot with my preparation.

What was Alex Trebek like?

[He was] very professional. We don’t get to meet him outside of the context of the show at all to make sure there’s no fixing going on, but on set he is completely in control. He answers audience questions during the breaks and his wicked sense of humor comes across.

How did you study for Jeopardy?

I tried to learn everything. I studied up on some stuff that comes up a lot, [such as] Shakespeare, royalty and presidents, and went to a Web site that has every Jeopardy question ever asked. If you Google search ‘J archive,’ you’ll find it. My roommates helped me train by asking me questions while I stood at a lectern and ‘rang in’ on a click pen, both of which were meant to simulate being on the show.

How did you feel while you were on the show? Nervous? Excited?

It’s a game, so the closest comparison is an athletic game. I was a bit nervous, but tried to use those nerves to stay focused. There is a lot to keep track of during the competition, so it’s important not to get distracted by the crowd or the moment.

What’s the weirdest question they asked?

The third question they asked on the first show was about Egyptian cotton. Last spring I took a full semester special topics class with [Professor] Jan Dizard about the cotton trade. When I got to answer that, it made me smile. I settled in and the game became easier.

What are you going to do with the money?

[I’m going to use it] mostly to go to cool places. I have a job that begins in January, so have about six months to travel the world on my winnings.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would add that one thing that was useful was Amherst’s open curriculum — I’ve taken classes in a lot of different subjects, and that opportunity was really useful for the show. When my first shows originally aired, I was surprised how many correct answers I could trace back to specific moments in classes at Amherst. For example, there was an astronomy category that I did well in thanks almost wholly to [Professor] George Greenstein.