Last year Jamie Bond, a 2007 graduate of North Bergen High School, saw a television commercial alerting viewers to apply as contestants for “Who Wants to Become a Millionaire.” She figured she would take her chances on the syndicated game show, never knowing that she would actually appear on television and walk away with $18,750.
Bond, 21, of North Bergen applied for the show with a friend in 2010. After filling out a test of “basic knowledge” she was selected for an interview.
“I don’t even know where it came from because I’m a really shy person.” – Jamie Bond
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Stars on show
Bond said that on that date, she sat in a room at the New York City studio with 10 other contestants, waiting for a phone to ring and for her to be told it was her time.
She was the last person to be called on the day of taping. She walked out, spoke with host Meredith Vierira, and began the game.
She answered her first question, which asked for the definition of “per diem,” correctly, earning $10,000. On the next question, Bond didn’t know the answer so she chose to “jump” over it.
On her third question, asking what profession Howard Roark was Ayn Rand’s book “The Fountainhead,” she decided to ask to audience.
“I read the book and it was a book I read in a college class,” said Bond. But she couldn’t remember that Roark was an architect.
Bond decided to jump the next question, correctly choosing which U.S. landmark shares its name with a popular breed of chicken, Plymouth Rock, earning $35,500.
Then the show’s time was up and Bond had to wait until the following Monday for the next taping.
She ultimately answered another question, dealing with the Chilean mine survivors, before deciding to not answer question seven, which asked what top secret Air Force investigation Project Blue Book stood for, and cashing in her bank.
Bond was able to walk away with $18,750, while if she had incorrectly answered the above question, she would have been left with $1,000.
For the record, the investigation had to do with UFOs.
Bond said that she often watches game shows and scoffs when contestants do not know the answers, but being on the show itself was a totally different experience.
Spending $ on school, road trip
Bond is a senior at Eastwich College and is working toward a degree as a medical assistant. She should be receiving the prize in one sum soon.
She plans to pay off her education and a few bills with the funds, along with taking a road trip with a few friends to Las Vegas.
“I’m not the kind of person to go in front of everybody,” said Bond. “Everyone was like, ‘I can’t believe you did that.’ ”
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.