University professor heads back to Grade 5
When Sandra Zichermann applied for a spot on Are You Smarter Than a Canadian Fifth Grader, winning a cash prize was not on her mind.
The 29-year-old university professor who teaches at Wilfrid Laurier University went on the show to experience being the one answering questions, instead of asking them.
“I didn’t go on the show to win money,” she said. “I wanted to step away from being a teacher and be the subject to see what it was like…in that position.”
Zichermann, who has three degrees and is working toward getting her doctorate in sociology, was among nine contestants selected to appear on the show. More than 5,000 people applied.
“I actually thought I was going to make it on the show. I’m a newly minted professor, and the show is about if people are smarter than Canadian fifth graders,” she said.
Upon hearing that she was going to be on the show, Zichermann was so excited that she screamed. She spent a day studying curriculum from grades 1 to 5 before appearing on the show.
“Any kind of education helps,” Zichermann, who is currently looking for a full-time teaching position,” said. “I tell my students ‘it’s never enough - there is no such thing as having done enough studying.’”
Her episode was filmed on Oct. 2, an experience she described as being an “awesome opportunity.”
“I have watched the show before, but everything changes when you’re there,” she said. “There’s an interesting dynamic with the audience and being on stage.
“I was really excited…I even forgot the camera was there.
“[The] questions were challenging - one wasn’t harder than the other, but I took my time with each question.
“I’ve seen the show before, and there have been people who think they knew the answers and answered quickly and got the question wrong,” she said.
After answering questions on everything from Canadian geography to life systems, Zichermann went home with $100,000, proving, as she said herself on the show, that she may not be smarter than a Canadian fifth grader, but she sure is richer than one.
Zichermann has big plans for her winnings, including paying off student debt, helping out her family, investing in an online photo-sharing company and donating to Jewish charities.
“Judaism is extremely huge in my life,” she said. “I am proud of my Jewish heritage.”
When asked if she enjoyed Grade 5, Zichermann said she did.
“Grade 5 was great….except for my hair, which was tragic - as everyone [who watched the show] has now seen.”