AMHERST - At 48 years old, Mary Robison, a mother and graduate student at the University of Massachusetts, never understood why so many people take illegal drugs.
That is, until now.
Robison, who has nearly completed her dissertation for a PhD in anthropology, is a contestant on the syndicated game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" which airs today. She described her experience on the show as "euphoric."
"You had to scrape me off the ceiling because I was so high," Robison said. "I was so happy."
After being out of a job for several months and hearing an opportunity to become a contestant on the show, Robison realized she had nothing to lose.
"I thought 'What's the worst that could happen? I'd make a fool out of myself?' Well, I've done that before," she joked.
Robison got involved in the show by completing a timed, 30-question, multiple-choice exam with over 200 other people. The group was allowed to sit through the taping of two episodes, when the names of those who passed the test were announced.
After Robison's name was called, she was interviewed immediately afterwards by "Millionaire." Within weeks, she was picked to be a contestant on the show.
Robison was driving in her car when she got a call on her cell phone by someone from the show. "When I got the call, I thought I was going to drive off the road," she said. "I literally had to pull over."
Due to restrictions created by the show's executives, Robison was not allowed to tell anyone - even her own son - how much money she was awarded on "Millionaire" before it aired.
"I'll just say I'm very happy," she said.
The show was taped on Nov. 8. It was originally supposed to air on Feb. 6, but the date got changed to today, which made Robison only the more apprehensive.
"I thought, 'If I have to keep the secret another week, I'm gonna explode!'" she said. "This past week was the hardest to keep the secret. I got so used to saying 'I can't tell you,' but now I want to talk."
Another part of Robison's agreement with "Millionaire" is that she could not disclose how many "lifelines" were used, or which ones, and she could not say the outcome of the episode.
There were five people on her "phone-a-friend" list, which included friends and family members, but she could not say who she called, or if she even used the option.
Robison said she wasn't expecting to become a millionaire after the show, but only "wanted enough to pay my hotel bill."
"Millionaire" does not pay travel expenses for its contestants. Robison had to take a Peter Pan bus from Springfield to New York City with her two friends. Luckily, she worked out a deal with a friend who works for Peter Pan, allowing her to pay a reduced fare. She and her friends did, however, pay for their hotel room.
Assuming the best did happen, Robison would be paid $1 million in payments over the next 20 years. If she won $500,000, then she would be paid over the next 10 years.
Without a steady income since May and with a leaky roof looming over her South Hadley house, Robison said she was thrilled for the opportunity to appear on "Millionaire." She says it's great that so many people are rooting for her, including her coworkers at Holyoke Community College where she teaches anthropology part-time.
"My coworkers are really excited. They've wished me well," she said. "And some friends are having a party for me while we watch the show on Monday."
"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" will air today at noon on WSHM-TV (CBS 3) and 1 p.m. on WTIC-TV (FOX 61).
