What's in a Name?

Mark Albo

Mark Albo- Hungarian ancestry; Described as somewhat dorky, clumsy, and ungainly, Mark is a kind, soft-hearted, and well-meaning boy who seeks friendships and a sense of belonging among his peers. He is a somewhat socially inept, but optimistic 15-year-old boy whom is often characterized for his cheerful attitude and hammy personality. Fiercely protective of and obsessed with his unrequited love Morgan Fischer, he will often go great lengths to defend and prove his love to her publicly, much to her irritation. Coming from a humble line of Hungarian immigrants who come from simple farming background in Ohio, he has a love for the outdoors and is not averse to enjoying going on hikes or nature walks or camping with his father ever so often. Mark is a described as being a husky, slightly chubby boy with messy, unkempt brown hair and light skin, along with a broad face and wide brown eyes. He is socially naive, sometimes dim-witted and simple-minded, and slow to understand principles or situations. He lacks the social skills to understand that his sometimes eager, overly enthusiastic nature appears intrusive and slightly bothersome to others and that he can annoy people with his questions or insistence in being a part of different social groups and cliques. He is often bright and very active and with his energetic, overzealous, and hot-blooded personality epitomizes the traits of the "nice guy." Mark appreciates what he considers to be the simple things in life- watching television, eating junk food, and playing videogames. A born adventurer at heart, he cannot sit still and is always looking for the next riddle to solve, although sometimes he can have a short-temperament. Despite his naivety, he can be quite observant, picking up on things others miss and retaining information casually gathered through conversation. 

He could be silly and foolish and behave somewhat like a "jerk" in his younger years depending on the company with whom he was with, but will often behave in a more calm, even-tempered, mature, and serious manner when the situation calls for it. Although he is generally kindly and good-natured, Mark is also incredibly emotional and can be easy to trigger, anger and provoke, which can cause him to potentially break down and react in an emotionally effusive way that often serves to his personal chagrin. He is aware of his faults, and admits he feels embarrassed by his sensitivity and sometimes puts on a tough façade to better fit in among his peers and mask his frustration. He is known to be sentimental and cries easily, often being moved by situations or people's stories. He also has a habit of voicing his bad dreams out verbally so that they don't come true, as they sometimes feel so vivid to him that he can't fall asleep. Mark doesn't usually bottle up what he feels and could also struggle significantly with self-control in his younger years and act rather rashly and impulsively, although he has learned to moderate his behavior with time. He is nonetheless caring and fiercely loyal towards his loved ones deep down and cares deeply for his classmate Morgan, despite failed attempts to impress her and Morgan's refusal to acknowledge or accept him due to her exasperation with and discomfort at his awkward nature. He has had romantic feelings for Morgan since they were young and shares several similarities with and empathizes with her due to their shared academic and social struggles. This life-long devotion serves as the cornerstone of his great self-confidence, as he believes he can accomplish any goal with enough hard work and perseverance, no matter what. Mark lived off-the-grid in the countryside for much of his early life and struggled initially to adapt to urban life upon moving to New York, although he has grown accustomed to the city with time. 

He considers green and brown to be his favorite colors and had a love for frogs and dinosaurs as a young boy, in addition to having a pet chicken named Madam Rouge. He sees Kermit the Frog as one of his favorite characters to exist and loves clay jewelry, leading him to own around 6 clay frog rings. He also mentioned has a gentler side and seems to have a passion for gardening, working part time as a florist at his mother's shop and claiming to feel at peace when watering plants or tending to each flower. Having a deep admiration for nature and its beauty, Mark aspires to be a park ranger or geologist in the future. He also plays the tuba for the school band and has a fondness for Classic Country, sharing Morgan's fondness for Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, among other singers. As time passes, he becomes socially smarter, despite still not being particularly intellectual, and finds a natural talent for playing football by becoming the fullback for the high school's team. This new status upon the school's football team slightly enhances his popularity among his peers and makes him more attractive to his female peers, who somewhat ironically regard him as a "lovable himbo" as a result of his handsome physique, but lack of book smarts. Mark was also known to be very superstitious, stubborn, timid, and cowardly, quickly developing bouts of paranoia and having odd beliefs. This was particularly noted when he briefly becomes obsessed with cleanliness after learning about germs through a documentary in his classroom. He also believed that his college-aged next-door neighbor Yumi Aikawa was a vampire after observing her through his window and his general fascination with aliens and the supernatural. Despite his passionate nature, he has shown strong instincts, staying focused on the task at hand and rarely losing his composure. A recurring theme Mark lives by is his drive to succeed, constantly holding on to the belief that hard work and perseverance can surpass natural ability and talent.