Photographe: Emmanuel Claude
ID CARD
- Name: Sienna Beck
- Age: 16
- School: International School of Luxembourg
- Hobbies: Football, volunteering, writing…
- Strengths: Determination, competitiveness, sincerity
- Favorite subjects: Math, science
- Motto: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” (John Lennon)
If you had to describe Take Off in three words, which would you choose?
An adventure
A family
Much more than it seems!
How do you feel now that the show is over?
It’s a bittersweet feeling. I’m sad because we grew very close: between the contestants, with the production team, and with the coaches. But at the same time, I’m above all very grateful to have had the chance to take part in an experience like this. It was truly incredible.
I’ve stayed in touch with the other contestants. We try to organize meetups regularly. The show created very strong bonds, different from the ones you usually form at school or elsewhere.
Did you think you would go this far in the competition?
I hoped so, of course, but I didn’t know if I was capable of it. The other contestants were all very strong, and much older: I was only 15 during the show! I didn’t even know if I would make it through the casting.
What qualities helped you the most to progress on Take Off?
I’m competitive and determined. My friends also say that I’m a sincere person, and I think that’s important. Especially in a team setting.
You have to be able to adapt, even when you don’t immediately understand a challenge. Problem-solving is essential, as well as flexibility and the ability to stay motivated.
Speaking of teamwork: how was communication between contestants?
Communication was a challenge, especially because of the languages. But everyone understood a bit of everything: Luxembourgish, French, English… We adapted naturally.
In the yellow team, communication worked really well. Everyone could contribute their ideas and build on others’. We truly developed solutions together. Sometimes we even understood each other without speaking.
In your opinion, what are the key elements of good communication?
You need to know how to contribute, but above all how to listen. Take others’ ideas into account, extract the best elements, and combine them. If everyone tries to impose their own idea, it doesn’t work.
What was your favorite challenge, and why that one in particular?
The starch challenge in episode 4. Our team found the solution very quickly, which gave us time to have a bit of fun. We pretended to keep searching and even tried to throw the other teams off track.
The challenge was to make a can roll down a slope for exactly 40 seconds. It was very technical, but also really fun.
And the most difficult challenge?
The one where we had to measure Olivier’s blood pressure. I didn’t understand anything at all. Communication with my teammate didn’t go well, because he was already mentally focused on the duel. It was very stressful, and unfortunately, that’s also the episode where I was eliminated. But that’s the game.
If you could take one object home from the show, what would you choose?
I’d choose the production’s cookies! They were incredible. Apparently, they came from France, but you can only order them in very large quantities. Too bad!
What was it like behind the scenes?
The atmosphere was very warm. I remember one moment when we stole all the cookies just to see how long it would take Madeline (from the production team) to notice... Not very long! It was often very funny, especially in the later episodes when we had to stay in the same room between recordings. We came up with all sorts of ways to keep ourselves busy: throwing pens into cups, building huge Leonardo da Vinci bridges, or creating mini-challenges. (Editor’s note: contestants don’t have their phones during filming to prevent them from looking up information about the episode topics online.)
We also had to film short videos for social media, sometimes quite absurd, which made them even more fun to shoot.
At the hostel, we often ate together, then spent the evening either outside or in someone’s room, usually ending with a game of poker.
How did you manage stress?
My mother taught me breathing techniques, like taking deep breaths to calm myself down. That helps me a lot.
During filming, there were also puppies that regularly came onto the set, specifically to help us reduce stress. It was really effective. They were still very young, very playful - and not always very clean! Sometimes there was a bit of chaos, but it was absolutely worth it. It was dog therapy, and it really worked.
And personally, my faith plays an important role. I’m Christian, and when I felt stressed, I prayed. It helped me keep a clear head.
The further the filming progressed, the easier it became. You get used to the cameras, you get to know the other contestants, the production team, the coaches… All of that really helps reduce stress. You grow with the show.
Was this season different from what you had imagined?
Yes, there were a lot of surprises. From the very first episode, several contestants were immediately qualified, and then an entire team was eliminated. The challenges were also quite unique: they were much more connected to real life, with themes and situations similar to real professions. It felt more concrete, more realistic.
People often think that science is only about big, complicated inventions, whereas in reality, even the simplest objects (like a pen) are based on scientific principles. I think that’s a very important message.
What advice would you give to young people considering applying for the next season of Take Off?
I would tell them not to be afraid. Everyone is extremely kind. The other contestants almost become a family, the production team is very attentive, and even the cameramen take the time to explain how everything works.
Of course, the competition is real, and every elimination is emotionally difficult. You’re both happy to continue and sad to see someone leave. But it’s an experience that is incredibly enriching.
Before applying to Take Off, were you already familiar with the show?
Not really. I hadn’t seen the first two seasons. Then I came across videos on social media several times, and I felt like it was a sign. After applying, I watched a few episodes to understand the concept, and I thought it was really good.
What are your hobbies outside of Take Off?
Outside of Take Off, I dedicate my time to several activities. I play football, do babysitting, and also take online courses, particularly through programs offered by Harvard University, where I’ve studied topics such as child protection and anatomy. I’m also involved in volunteering, helping to supervise football training sessions.
I take part in science and mathematics competitions. In addition, I participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which encourages young people to engage in sporting and personal activities. Finally, together with another student, I co-founded a media team at school to document school life through photos and videos.
Author: Diane Bertel
Editor: Lucie Zeches (FNR)
