Central Michigan University alumna, Jaclyn Schultz, put herself to the test on CBS’s 29th season of Survivor, which pits contestants against the elements and each other. Schultz took second place, falling short of winning the $1 million prize. She competed in the Nicaraguan wilderness with her then boyfriend, now fiancé, Jon Misch. The former Central Michigan Life staffer spoke to us about her experience and plans for the future.

CM-Life: Jaclyn, tell us about your experience on the show.

Schultz: "It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was challenging physically, mentally and socially. It’s like you’re down at your lowest point physically, [but] you have to get up and play a social game. The last thing I want to do when I’m tired and starving is have to socialize. It took a lot to do but that’s where Jon kind of came in. He has a little bit more energy and a lot more body fat to burn. It was a great experience overall."

CM-Life: Did you learn anything from your experience on Survivor about yourself?

Schultz: "Yeah, I think that I learned a lot about the relationship that I have with Jon. About working together as a team. I learned that I’m more reserved. I like to think things over and talk things out, whereas Jon is more trusting and more of [the] social force in our relationship. We learned that he’s the one out front being super social, where I’m the one a little more reserved making intimate relationships with people."

CM-Life: How did getting on "Survivor" come about in the first place? How did you get on the show?

Schultz: "I got an inbox message on my Facebook from a casting director asking if I was interested in being on the Amazing Race. I was supposed to go on the "Amazing Race" with Miss Colorado, [but] that fell through. I introduced the casting directors to Jon and they loved him. So then they said, 'Well what about Survivor?' and we were like, 'uhh yeah!'"

CM-Life: When is the wedding?

Schultz: "We got engaged in October and the wedding will probably be in September. We haven’t picked a date yet because everything has been so crazy hectic and we moved from Nevada back to Michigan. The wedding will be in Michigan but we are thinking September."

CM-Life: You got into a bit of a conflict with another contestant on the show, Natalie, and it got a little personal. How was that resolved and was there an apology?

Schultz: "Natalie was saying things that were insulting to Jon’s character that were outside of the games. Just saying things about his religion, that he is fake, that he prays before every challenge. I wanted to defend him right away. This is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. For her to come out of left field and say it’s fake that he prays before a challenge is totally below the belt, so that offended me and I kind of went off. Right after that she apologized three times we’re good though [and] friends now."

CM-Life: What was the hardest challenge you had to do on the show?

Schultz: "Definitely the last immunity challenge. I think it was four flights of stairs and I couldn’t breathe when I got to the top but I am good at puzzles. So, I knew once I caught my breath I could knock the puzzle out. I was like a rack of bones running. I think I lost like 35 pounds. The hardest thing overall was trying to be social when you are so depleted and you’re trying to take care of yourself. Then, having to have a strong mental capacity for the social games."

CM-Life: Now, I know you are really big on challenging yourself. You did it with the Miss Michigan pageant and again with Survivor. Why do you think living with that attitude of challenging yourself is so beneficial?

Schultz: "I think it’s always important to improve yourself and I think if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. You should always be learning and growing as a person. I think that Miss Michigan totally changed my outlook on life not only with myself but with other people. I think it’s important to not live a self-centered life."

CM-Life: Do you have any more challenges lined up for yourself?

Schultz: "I’m going to Michigan State. I’m starting prerequisites for dental hygiene. It’s a big switch for me since my undergrad is in public relations. Jon and I learned that we want to work together in the future and he’s going to dental school. So that’s a big challenge, we will see how it goes."