Sam Coster 2012

Campus Cutie Sam Coster would give The Most Interesting Man in the World a run for his money. His voice sounds straight out of Zoolander, he owns multiple Rubik’s cubes, and he’s dallied in the Uberman Sleep Schedule. Not interesting enough to know what that is? Just kidding, I didn’t either. For twelve days, Sam slept for 20 minutes every four hours, which left him 22 hours each day to accomplish everything that he wanted.  (Note: he temporarily lost his short-term memory, so I wouldn’t try it at home). Most recently, he parlayed his interest in video games into a marketable skill, securing a design and web development job doing what he loves.
 
Hometown? Grinnell, Iowa.
Grade? Senior.
Relationship status?Taken (for three months, today!). 
Studying?I’m a Psychology Major with a Minor in Writing. I didn’t want to declare a major because I like doing everything.
Activities on Campus? I’m a Lock and Chain alum and I was a cheerleader for two years. I went to the Activities Fair freshman year and there were a bunch of cute women there who said that if I went to practice that night I would get to go on a date with the whole cheerleading team. Freshmen and sophomore year I did a lot of extra-curriculars and now I work. But I’m also dancing hip-hop and in Carnavale this spring. 
Where do you work?I have three jobs… I work at the Psych lab running experiments and building software, and I also work with the Office of Undergraduate Research, where I build and maintain all the pre-med websites and their records. It’s very schizophrenic. Next year I’ll be working full-time for Simutronics, a video game development company in St. Louis. The cool thing there is that I get to do everything…I’m currently revamping how they do video game testing, which basically means making things more fun.
How do you know so much about software programming? I’m self-taught. I took one Comp-Sci course freshmen year but it was horrible. Then sophomore year, I had a class called Presentation Matters where I found my mentor for everything.
What did you eat for breakfast today?I had 3/4 lbs. of hamburger, half of a grapefruit, and two pieces of dark chocolate. I’ve been trying to eat big breakfasts because I’m working towards running a 5-minute mile.
What is your most prized possession?I really like the leather backpack that my dad gave me for graduation. It’s all banged up and I’d be sad if I lost it. 
How do you want to die?  If I could control it, it would have to be the most epic thing, like ramping into a volcano while flying on the wings of a dragon that is being intercepted by a comet. Definitely not subtle.
Who do you most respect?My dad. He’s a surgeon; usually he does general surgery but lately he’s been doing robotic surgery. 
What quality do you most hate in a man?I don’t like people who vie for status. Socially competitive people confuse me. 
What about in a woman?Lack of strength, both in a physical and in a personality sense. I want to be able to go climb trees with you and then intellectually debate about the tree climbing. 
What are you doing for spring break?I don’t have any plans yet. I normally don’t plan much more than 3 days in advance. 
Any regrets looking back on your WashU career?I wish I had taken more art courses. I took Illustration and I’m taking Drawing right now but I wish I had taken Sculpture or Ceramics.
Most cherished memory at WashU?My birthday is on December 18^th, so I’m always gone for winter break. This past December on the 14th before I left, my friends threw me a surprise party. There were 14 women holding a cake and everyone I love in one room. 
Time you were the most embarrassed?Fourth grade on the friggin’ playground. This was the time when everyone decided that pantsing was a really cool thing to do; I wasn’t a part of it because I am not into violating people. I was sprinting away from my friends because they were trying to pants me and I was climbing up this tall piece of equipment and of course I was wearing athletic shorts, which was the problem. I got to the top of the tower where everyone had a 360°view of me and my friend ripped my clothes off – full Monty. 
Funniest screen name from your childhood?coster_fizzle.
Do you have any vices?I f*cking love candy. If its got sugar, I want it. 
What humbles you?When people are able to fully throw themselves behind one thing. I think that’s really remarkable because I’m so scatterbrained. 
Where can we find you 2 pm on a Saturday afternoon?Probably in the village drinking tea with my friends – either earl gray or chamomile, depending on whether I need caffeine. 
What about at 2 am?It depends… either out dancing like a crazy person or cuddling. 
Favorite kind of food?  Meat.
Last book you read?I finished one two days ago called Fun and the Theory of Game Design. The book before that was Thinking Fast and Slow, which was about how your conscious self is only a very small part of what is going on in your brain all the time. 
What movie can you quote verbatim?Anchorman or Zoolander. 
You’re stranded on an island. What three items would you bring and how would you keep yourself entertained?Hmm… I feel like I should bring something useful like a knife for stabbing things. I’d definitely also bring a pillow. The question is what can you build out of palm trees besides huts? I would also bring a really powerful telescope because then I could look for ships and set things on fire – entertainment and practicality!