Three years ago, Chad Bartholomew decided that he would try out for the television game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

To qualify, contestants must complete a 30-question test. Many of these questions were from previous episodes, and varied in subject. He didn’t make it, but he remained optimistic, returning each year until at last he got his chance.

Bartholomew graduated from Towson University this past May where he studied psychology.

He said he has always played trivia but it was not until he moved back home to Walkersville, Md. in Frederick County that he started playing more regularly.

When Bartholomew learned that he was to be on the show after years of failed attempts, he said he was thrilled.

To prepare for August 28, when the episode was filmed, Bartholomew studied by mostly focusing on pop culture information.

“My weaknesses are art and fashion, so of course I had questions on both of those topics,” Bartholomew said.

Bartholomew walked away with $20,500 after losing on the eighth question.

“I was actually at work when it aired, but it was surreal to think that people I knew were watching me on TV and cheering when I got questions right,” Bartholomew said.

While on the show, he answered seven questions correctly and used all three of his lifelines.

He said he was frustrated that he was forced to use the lifelines so early, as the level of difficulty in the questions is random and he had challenging questions in the beginning.

Bartholomew said he does not know how he will use his winnings.

“I really want to travel somewhere, like maybe Australia, but I also really want to fix my car up,” Bartholomew said.