The Track Star & His Comic Books
“This is my sanctuary. This is the Batcave. This is Wayne Enterprises.”
— Herbert Koomson
Herbert Koomson, a senior industrial engineering major and track runner, chose West Virginia University because he said it was the best value for a good engineering program. During his time here Herbert also learned of WVU’s good party reputation.
“I’ve been here 5 years for a reason,” he said. “But yes, I did make the right decision because I kind of had to grow up faster — I’m a lot more mature than when I was 17 when I came here.”
How did you decide to decorate your living space?
Herbert: I’m not going to put a personal touch on the living room because it is a shared space. I’m going to try and keep it as shared — as it can be neutral as possible.
On his room: If you look in someone’s room you can see they are like, what they’re about. The paintings that’s fire and that’s ice — that’s my personality. I’m a closet nerd, so I have superhero posters. A lot of my friends don’t know I read comic books or watch wrestling. I’m into art. I play the Saxophone. I’m a Knicks fan ’til the day I die from the day I was born. My very first time I got to stay up late, my dad let me watch the New York Knicks play the San Antonio Spurs and I fell in love with the New York Knicks ever since. That’s my favorite basketball player Allan Houston. I’m from New York, so I had to have the license plate. I hate the Nets, but I just like that picture of The Wizard of Oz — kind of freaks me out. My parents are from Ghana. I’m from Ghana too, so I have a flag. All the decorations you can pretty much get an idea of me.
Do you consider Morgantown to be your home?
Herbert: In a way it’s like home but again it’s not. I’ve been here for so long I actually do like the town a little bit, although, it’s not home because my family isn’t here.
Why did you choose to live here?
Herbert: I’ve lived in some pretty bad apartments… it looked like a “trap house”. When I decided to move out, one big thing for me was how the apartment itself looked like, how the outside looked. A lot of people don’t see these apartments — it’s very peaceful.
How do you think this space represents you or your personality?
Herbert: With the arrangements and stuff — my mom did help me. What inspired me? I don’t know, what inspired me. I just started looking at art and getting into art and deciding that I wanted to have less posters on my wall and more artwork.
Rent: $585/month
— Justice Samuels, sophomore
West Virginia University
Fall 2016
Contact: Justice Samuels on Medium
