A childhood accident nearly claimed Mark's life. It also shaped his worldview. When he was six, he fell out of a boat and was about to be sucked into the propeller just as his mother saved him and pulled him to safety. Consequently, the Annapolis-area native emerged from that experience with very close family ties, a realization that life is short and a thirst for adventure, living every day as if it were his last. ''I like being spontaneous, not having a plan -- that's always so much fun,'' says the 21-year-old. A senior studying acting and film at Towson University and a server at the Cheesecake Factory, Mark hopes to become an actor. He hopes to explore more of D.C.'s bar scene now that he's of age.
What's on your nightstand?Ibuprofen, a bottle of water, pictures of friends, a dream catcher, a lamp, my keys.
Coverboy: Mark
What's in your nightstand drawer?Clothing. Because I live in the dorm and I'm stuck in this little box.
Where do you keep the condoms and lube?I'm a 21-year-old virgin. If I did have them, they'd probably be on top of the dresser because I don't care. I'm very open and I don't keep secrets from my friends. There's an unused dildo suction-cupped to my fridge called the ''Almighty Weiner.''
What are your television favorites?Walking Dead. I'm really obsessed with zombies. I don't know why.
What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?Clifford.
What superhero would you be?A Transformer. I'd like to be able to turn into whatever.
Who's your greatest influence?My parents. And then I'd have to say Jack Dawson from Titanic. I always wanted to be like him.
What's your greatest fear?Losing friends in any sense. Ending up alone.
Pick three people, living or dead, who you think would make the most fascinating dinner guests imaginable.Marilyn Monroe. Will Smith. Miley Cyrus – I want to get inside her brain.
What would you serve?Barbecued chicken and ribs, hot dogs and hamburgers. And for dessert, chocolate cake. It's my favorite.
How would you describe your dream guy?Someone who can talk to me and takes me for who I am. Nice, funny, smart. Not rugged exactly, but not with a pressed shirt or perfect hair. Someone who can hang out in sweats with me and watch the game. People with a different ethnicity or some kind of culture would be nice.
Define good in bed.I guess I wouldn't really know. For the first time, I want to be with someone I love.
Who should star in a movie about your life?Me.
Who was your first celebrity crush?Leonardo DiCaprio, my perfect dream guy.
Who gets on your nerves?I'm pretty understanding. I hate hypocrites, though.
If your home was burning, what's the first thing you'd grab while leaving?If there were any people there, I'd grab them and head out. Otherwise, pictures, because of the memories.
What's your biggest turn-on?Guys that hold the door open for you, or pick up something for you when you drop it. Guys that are nice.
What's your biggest turn-off?Guys who are overly confident or cocky. You just want to tell them, ''You're not that great.''
What's something you've always wanted to do but haven't yet tried?I want to bungee jump. I want to pet a tiger.
What's something you've tried that you never want to do again?One time I was on the monkey bars and I tried to jump to another set of monkey bars, and I hit my face. I didn't like that.
Boxers, briefs or other?Other.
What's the most unusual place you've had sex?The most unusual place where I would want to have sex is outside in the woods or on a beach.
What position do you play in the big baseball game of life?I don't know. I'll probably be versatile.
What's your favorite food to splurge with?I get down with some wings and blue cheese.
What kind of animal would you be?Tiger.
What are you most grateful for?My family and friends.
What's something you want more of?Better, more decent guys in the world. Some of them suck.
State your life philosophy in 10 words or less.Just gotta believe.
...more