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Hannah Gross is ready for
any challenge during the
filming of Endurance In FIX
West Bloomfield teen faces challenges
on TV reality show in Fiji.
Seth Samuels
Teen2Teen Staff
C
limbing up ropes dangling over
ocean water while communicat-
ing with new people at the same
time was just one of many activities 15-
year-old Hannah Gross of West Bloomfield
took part in during filming for national
television.
Hannah was one of 16 contestants cho-
sen from thousands of teens nationwide
to be on the Discovery Kids Channel's
Endurance, a reality competition show that
challenges a group of teens mentally and
physically. Over several weeks in August,
the show's sixth season was filmed in Fiji.
The series opening will air at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13.
Hannah describes herself as a "unique
individual who stands out in a crowd." At
Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit
in Farmington Hills, she was the lead in
Anything Goes her graduating year. Now
a sophomore at West Bloomfield High
School, she manages a busy school life
while taking part in five school clubs,
BBYO, voice lessons, playing guitar and
dancing. Not only getting by but excelling
at each of these activities prompted her to
audition for the show.
For her audition video, Hannah devised
her own obstacle course to demonstrate
her ability to strategize and persevere.
"It was very difficult to let her go:' said
her mom, Suzy. "There were moments
when I said I can't let her do this. I spoke
to the producers many times, and they
made me feel Hannah would be well taken
care of.
"So I was 100 percent for it. Hannah
is very passionate; she knows what she
wants and is very driven. I was thrilled to
let her live out this dream."
Unlike her daily activities at home,
however, the Endurance challenges didn't
involve everyday items teens are used to,
such as a car, cell phone, computer, MP3
player or magazine. Instead, the chal-
lenges forced the kids to use only the
raw qualities that make up who they are.
Perseverance and communication were
major factors to moving on.
"Every day, there was a challenge, either
physical or mental:' Hannah said. "After
the challenge, and after eating, there
would be a little more filming to do to find
out who is getting kicked off and who is
going on."
Knowing Yourself
"Everyone was different:' Hannah said.
"Some kids were extremely strong; some
loved to sing and dance; and some loved
acting. Everybody had different personali-
ties, so if you had a strong determination
to be there and win, you'd do well at the
challenges."
Many kids go into the filming process
feeling they know their strengths to
exploit and weaknesses to avoid, Hannah
said. After going through the different
challenges, however, they learn a new part
about themselves that couldn't be brought
out in a classroom or other conventional
setting — but only uncovered by trials
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Hannah, far right, during the rope challenge.
that test your ability in all areas, starting
with being able to make a decision. One
major aspect the show brings out in the
cast is self-realization, she said.
"There was one challenge where there
was ridiculous running back and forth,
and I'm not a very good runner so that
was definitely a breaking point;' Hannah
said. "I really had to believe in myself and
keep running, but I definitely tested my
strength because I never knew I could do
something like that. When you're on the
island, it shows who you really are."
Coming home to her parents, Suzy
and Marty Gross, Hannah says she was
a new person in her own eyes as well as
in the eyes of others. Many knew of her
talents and abilities, but being on the
show enhanced the traits that make her
up — producing a new, elite, yet everyday
teen that takes life's bounty and struggles
in stride.
"Right when I came back, my friends
were really welcoming and just so excited
to hear every little detail about it," said
Hannah, who was not allowed to say how
she did on the show. "They were really
proud of me no matter what I did there, so
they were just excited that I went to Fiji."
Now that the excitement of summer has
passed, Hannah is right back into her busy
schedule. She credits her "determination
and passion" as key drivers to her success
on the show, and expects to take in stride
even more new hurdles sent her way. II
Seth Samuels, 16, is a junior at Birmingham
Groves High School.
October 11 • 2007
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