[about...]
Hobbies : Studying :Sam is of your average intelligence, but without putting in hours and hours of studying every night, he would unquestionably be failing. He might have some learning disability (ie ADD) but he figures that by forcing himself to study or do extra homework is as good as getting anything diagnosed. He doesn't mind schoolwork as much as he minds making poor grades. Sam doesn't like abstract classes like Literature or Public Speaking, rather he prefers history and the sciences because they have concrete, finite answers that he can memorize.
Reading :You would think with all the studying he does he would get burnt out on reading but it's quite the opposite. He likes fiction and nonfiction alike, autobiographies, sci-fi, historical battle tactics... etc... It's a good way to pass the time. As long as someone he trusts has recommended it, he'll try it out. Usually uses an e-reader or checks books out from the library. He wouldn't have room in his dorm for everything he's read or intends to read.
Running :Sam runs in marathons for fun, but mostly he runs because it's good exercise and he enjoys it. Unless there's a race coming up, you'll never see him on a treadmill. A lot of the pleasure he gets is just being outside and taking in the early morning stillness before a lot of people are awake or late at night after everyone is at home or in bed. To be a better runner, you may catch him at the gym doing some weights and strengthening his core.
Virtues :Confident :Sam just naturally has a confident swagger, he's sure of who he is, what he likes, what he knows and what he's capable of. Because he studies so much, he usually feels pretty sure about answering in class, and is generally at ease in school. He likes who he is as a person, so his attitude is that if he's himself, people will naturally be attracted to him. If not, then that's not his fault or theirs, nothing personal so he doesn't worry about it.
Loyal :Sam believes (or at least hopes) for the best in people, so he's willing to see past people's shortcomings and stay by their side (different if he's really personally wronged, though). Once he makes a friend, he will work hard at that relationship with the expectations they'll do the same. If you need help with anything, Sam will do all he can to help. It's what he would want his friends to do if the situation was reversed. You need help with your classes or your chores? Sam will pitch in. He won't just dismiss someone as a friend if they're late a couple of times to hanging out. As long as it wasn't on purpose. Just value him and his time as much as he values you & yours and he'll be yours forever!
Persistent :He can have a dogged determination when he really sets his mind to it. If he needs to bring up his grades in a class, he will forego all going out and seeing friends to use that time to study. Running was tough when he got started, but he stuck with it and now can go a marathon distance without the shortness of breath and shin splints he used to get. Because he's confident, he knows he can achieve anything he sets his mind to.
Flaws : But How Does That Make You Feel? :Very bad at expressing emotions. Sam has a hard time opening up to people, so while he is friendly and gets along well with most people, most relationships are very superficial. It's just easier that way. He can deal with other people talking about their emotions, and is always willing to try to help them with their problems, but always tries to direct conversation away from anything about himself. If he were to date anyone, it would be convenient if they were very self-centered and always talked about themselves and their feelings to keep attention off himself.
Don't Forgive OR Forget :Sam may be loyal, but there is one way to lose his friendship, and it's by deeply wronging him. I don't mean you blow him off once when you were supposed to get dinner, or forgetting your part of the project one time. But if there's a pattern of repetition where you don't value his time or his feelings, you're on his bad side. He can still work with this person on a professional/scholarly basis, won't be rude to them for the sake of being rude, but all those extra lengths he goes to for his friends or even speaking to besides out of necessity, not gonna happen.
Micromanaging / Workaholic : For people in group projects with Sam, it's a love/hate relationship. He's always on their case, but it usually means a pretty good grade. He never minds the chores to do at school because it makes him feel very productive to clean etc. His room at school is very clean and organized, not OCD level, but nearly. When it's just his room or his homework, it's fine because it doesn't affect anyone, but it turns into a flaw when he becomes critical of others for their handwriting or how they cook (put the stuff back as you get done using it, clean the dishes while you wait for things to bake/etc) or how their rooms look. He doesn't mean to sound mean, he wants you to have your life in order like he does, but it sounds very harsh and rude. Most of his friends would quickly learn to study in a public place, not at their rooms where they could get insulted or Sam's room where he would constantly police people (use a coasters, taking their shoes off, turning off lights when they leave the room, etc.)
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