Eva Erickson

Survivor and Reality TV Contestant

Eva Erickson is a Survivor and reality TV contestant based in Providence, Rhode Island. Known for being the first openly autistic contestant on CBS’ Survivor and the Survivor 48 runner up, Eva has a passion for inspiring others through her experiences and has since cultivated a social media presence highlighting Survivor, hockey, and autism advocacy. Eva is pursuing an Engineering Fluid and Thermal Science PhD and currently researching vortex- and wake- induced vibrations of elastically mounted seal whisker-inspired objects at Brown University for her PhD thesis. She has a BS in Physics from Georgia Tech where she was also the first and only woman to play on the men’s hockey team. She also works as an NCAA Division I hockey official for the Hockey East conference.

Education

  • BS, Physics, Georgia Tech, and PhD (in progress)
  • Engineering in Fluid and Thermal Science, Brown University

Professional Achievements

  • Survivor 48 Runner-Up
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow

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Forum Comments (2)

Just found out that I'm neurodivergent
As someone with autism, if you find out that you're neurodivergent, one of my biggest tips is to talk to the people in your life about it. If you need support, the best place to find it is with your friends and family, people that you trust and care about. With my autism, I get overstimulated, and I have learned the things that help me calm down through experience and therapy. By now, I know what will help me, and the people in your life can be that support for you.

I also believe that you shouldn't be afraid to share that you have autism, because the people who love you will love you whether you have autism or not. I personally think that communicating that to those in your life is really important. And then, I'd suggest trying to be self-aware of what you're experiencing. When you're new to your diagnosis and you're trying to understand it, I think it's good to reflect and look at how you respond to different situations.

Finally, talking to a therapist, your doctor, and others who can provide you with the help that you need to better understand yourself is so important. This really shows that you want to be the best you can be, and that you want to use your autism for its strengths, and not just look at it as something that gives you challenges.
I think I may be autistic. How do you tell?
As someone with autism, I can tell you that there are many different signs. One of the things about having autism is often you're not aware of the differences that you may have. And so, it can be kind of hard to self-diagnose. However, some things to look out for, whether it’s yourself or your child, are sensitivities to different sensory inputs. For example, I would get very overwhelmed by sounds, by lights, when there were a lot of people around, or when there was a lot of activity going on. I wouldn't process that in the same way as other kids and would get very overstimulated. Additionally, I was not necessarily developing at the same rate that other kids my age, and struggled with socializing.

At the same time, I would exceed and have huge success in other ways. For example, I was extremely good at math, but struggled to spell or read or write. So, having this imbalance in developmental rates is something you can look at. Another sign of autism can be struggling to make eye contact, or doing repetitive actions when experiencing strong emotions. The act of experiencing strong emotions can also be a symptom. That's one that commonly people bring up. However, it’s such a spectrum that there's not a one size fits all definition that you can read online. Ultimately, there are so many things that go into what someone with autism may present as their symptoms. And, a lot of these “signs” can be experienced by those who are not autistic. Just because you are someone who struggles with eye contact, that does not necessarily mean you have autism, it might be something else. So, if you you think that you might not be neurotypical, then the best approach is to talk to a doctor and get an official diagnosis. Do not just do your own self-diagnosis, because that can be very skewed.

Co-authored Articles (10)

A Guide to Technical Report Writing

Engineer Eva Erickson shares tips on formatting & writing a tech reportEngineers, scientists, and medical professionals need to be good writers too—and technical reports prove it! A good technical report presents data ...

How to

Survive on a Deserted Island With Nothing

Although many people travel by plane and boat without incident, accidents can happen as in getting stranded. If your boat or plane fails at sea, you and your fellow passengers may have been fortunate enough to be near a...

How to

Handle Fame

Survivor and reality TV contestant Eva Erickson explains how to cope with fameWhether you're a celebrity, a politician, a Myspace star, or a well-known author, you might be uncomfortable with being in the public eye. Fam...

How to

Live on a Deserted Island

The worst possible thing has happened: you find yourself stranded on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere and are a victim of circumstance. Is all hope lost? Is there is absolutely no hope of being rescued? On the ...

How to

Bake Hockey Skates

Your simple guide to heat-molding ice skates at home New pairs of skates can be harsh on your feet causing pain and rashes if your feet don't fit. Fortunately, you can bake them, a process that allows the material to sof...

How to

Try Ice Skating for the First Time

Ice skating is a go-to winter activity for kids and adults. What a fantastic way to spend a wintry afternoon! Imagine how fun it would be gliding gracefully on the ice, performing magnificent spins and triple toe loops. ...

How to

Explain Autism to People

If one of your loved ones, or you, are autistic, you may find that you need to explain the disability to other people on occasion. Before you can properly explain autism, it is helpful to learn as much as you can about i...

Autism Symbols & Colors: An Overview of the Most Recognizable Icons

Learn about the history and meaning of different autism symbolsWhat are the major symbols associated with autism acceptance and awareness? Whether you’re on the autism spectrum or just want to show your support for the...

How to

Get Famous While Young

Dreaming of becoming a famous child superstar? Nowadays there are all kinds of ways to become famous when you're young, from starting a YouTube channel or TikTok to getting into acting or singing. If you're not sure wher...

Hockey Slang: 100+ Words & Phrases (With Definitions)

Talk hockey like a pro with this definitive guideLike any sport, fans and players have developed a lot of slang and lingo around ice hockey. If you've never been to a hockey game before, it might seem like the people aro...