Erik Johnston

Freshman, pharmacy

Hometown and state?
Missoula, Montana.

How old are you?
Eighteen.

How old do you feel?
Eighteen – maybe a little older – ready to do stuff.

Why did you come to UM?
I didn’t really know what I wanted to do yet, so it was easier to come here, and my Dad also works here, so I got a discount.

What’s your favorite place on campus?
I like Washington-Grizzly Stadium or the Adams Center. I always go to all of the games.

Do you participate in any sports?
I did in high school, but I won’t be in college.

Do you plan to join any organizations here?
I plan to play in the intramural sports.

What’s your favorite sport?
Baseball.

What’s the best thing about Missoula?
The atmosphere. I travel around Montana a lot and I love Missoula.

What is Montana’s best-kept secret?
The hidden lakes. Even up the Rattlesnake there are a lot of places people don’t know.

Who’s your favorite Montana celebrity or historical figure?
I really like Dave Dickenson. He’s a quarterback. He played here in 1995 when we won our championship. He’s not really that big of a celebrity but he’s been playing football in Canada for a long time now and he’s a really cool guy.

What would you do if you were in the Monte suit?
I’d try to be a lot like Barry – the guy who won all the mascot awards – I know him and he’s a pretty funny character.

If you became President, what’s the first thing you would do?
I have no idea.

What’s your primary mode of transportation?
My truck.

What’s your favorite winter activity?
Broomball. My friend makes an ice rink at his house. You run around in your shoes and get black and blue from falling. It’s pretty fun.

What’s the biggest accomplishment in your life so far?
Graduating from high school and getting a scholarship to The University of Montana.

What’s your favorite diversion or snack?
Anything from Dairy Queen is good, especially after a long float on the river.

What song do you wish you had written?
"Last Dollar" by Tim McGraw.

Sum up your life philosophy.
Have fun and do what you like to do.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
Um, I don’t get embarrassed too often.

If you could light anything on fire right now, what would it be?
I’d light all the underbrush on fire so we don’t have so many forest fires in the summer.

Burn it before it burns us?
Yep.

What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
I have no idea.

What you see is what you get?
Pretty much.

-- Interview and photography by Winona Sorensen