User blog comment:Coolio15/Season 5 Castaway Applications (Closed)/@comment-32574574-20170820221003

Name (Age): ​Jared McCollough (22)

Tribe Designation: TBD

Current Residence: ​Santa Barbara, CA

Occupation: ​Aspiring Piano Player

Personal Claim to Fame: ​Pursuing my passion despite my physical handicap. Even though it's much more complicated to do what I'm doing being deaf, I wanted to find a way to do what I love to do.

Inspiration in Life: ​Professionally, I would say Helen Keller, for being able to contribute to the world the way she did despite her physical liabilities. My mom is my best friend, and she is the one who supported me the most when I was in high school.

Hobbies: ​Playing Piano, Going Out to the Beach, Playing Catch with my Dad

Pet Peeves: Oh my god, I hate ​when you bite your lip, and then all of a sudden, you get an ulcer on your mouth. Those are the worst! I also can't stand people who take life for granted, especially in America.

Three Words to Describe You: ​Caring, Genuine, Helpful

SURVIVOR Contestant You Are Most Like: ​I've seen the show before, and I would definitely say I compare myself the most to Kim Spradlin. She was under the radar, and underestimated, but when the time came, she went in for the kill.

Reason for Being on SURVIVOR: ​I want to see how good I am in a game where social skills are the most important thing. I also want to buy this condo me and my boyfriend have been wanting for a while now in Santa Barbara, and the million dollars would help. I'd save the rest of the money for my family.

Why You Think You’ll “Survive” SURVIVOR: ​I don't think having an interpreter is going to help me or hurt me. If my tribe gives me the opportunity, which I believe they will, they'll see that I'm just like they are.

Why You Think You Will Be the Sole SURVIVOR: ​I'm not a threat to anyone, but I can physically compete in challenges, perhaps better than what the competition thinks I would. I don't have an ego, and I want to help my tribe out no matter what. In the end, I hope the jury will look at me not for my disability, but for my gameplay. If that means placing 2nd because I didn't use my deafness as an excuse, I'll do it.

​*Jared has an interpreter who speaks for him. Which is his boyfriend, John, and he speaks for Jared, since Jared only knows sign language.