Senior Nathan Rastovac thinks the Great Lakes are oceans.
Courtesy | Nathan Rastovac

Nathan Rastovac is a senior economics major from Wadsworth, Illinois. The current co-head resident assistant of Simpson Residence, where he has worked as RA for three years, Rastovac is known widely for his signature sayings, “winning” and “anywho,” and his love for Hillsdale’s quirky traditions. Rastovac is a Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence Fellow and he runs Storage For Students, a business he started his sophomore year and hopes to expand to campuses nationwide.

If you had named yourself, what would you have chosen and why?

Rasto Rasto would have been my legal name. Or Rasto James Rastovac, because James is my real middle name and I would probably keep it. Or Rasto Rasmodius. There’s Dadstovac as well. Or Rasto Pasta Rasto. Or honestly, just get rid of my first and middle name and just go with Rasto Rastovac.

What is your best-kept secret?

My best-kept secret is that I have a “fun uncle” Rasto. He’s a super silly, goofy side of Rasto that you only see when it’s late at night and I should be in bed sleeping, but the guys have either given me sugar or they’ve forced me to watch a movie. But eventually, I get to the point where Rasto leaves and at that point no one knows what he is going to say or do.

If you could have a lifetime supply of anything, what would it be?

It would be chocolate-covered almonds from Costco, because they are super tasty and they are stupid expensive, so if I can get them for free, I will. If you’ve ever seen the tubs, you’ll understand this, because the tubs are not that big, and they are $20! It’s criminal, but they are such a good snack. And I can rub it in my sister’s face because she’s allergic to tree nuts, so that’s funny. And it’s milk chocolate, which is arguably better than dark chocolate. So combine God’s gift of an almond with God’s gift of milk chocolate, and you have perfection.

What are the top three perks of being a Simpson RA for three years?

Number one is getting to live in the best men’s dorm on campus. Number two is not having a good kitchen or laundry room. This makes you a man, because you have to be strong when it comes to surviving. When you cannot find a dryer to dry your clothes, that just makes you stronger as a person. And number three is working with the best RAs on campus.

What is the most random fact you’ve learned in the classroom at Hillsdale?

I’ve discovered that most professors want to go on tangents and you’ve just got to find out what they’re interested in to start a tangent in the classroom. Once you know their weakness, it’s easy.

What is your favorite hobby?

German mountain yodeling or Mongolian throat singing, because it gets people in good spirits. Also because I suck at singing, but I like to use my voice anyway. Using words just doesn’t convey the same emotional impact you want.

What is your most stubborn opinion?

That the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is one of the saddest maritime incidents and the saddest song. Everybody says songs like “American Pie” or something else are sad songs. No, this is a sad song. Twenty-nine souls. Twenty-nine souls went down with the Edmund Fitzgerald. It is tragic, and you cannot look me in the face and say that’s nothing. No, this is the Great Lakes we’re talking about. It’s an ocean. Oh, and you wanna know something else I’m staunch on? People will go around saying “Oh, the Great Lakes are just lakes.” No, they are freaking oceans. And you’ve gotta respect that, because if you don’t, it will take you out and you just won’t see it coming. And that’s the truth. And I stand by that. I stand with the Great Lakes and respect them for what they are: oceans, essentially just as deadly, and man, so beautiful.

What do you think is the key to success at Hillsdale?

I know this is a little controversial because no one can keep the latter, but I think the key to success here is finding a good group of friends and keeping a good girlfriend or boyfriend. Because when you can find that and keep it, life is great, and you don’t have to worry about those things anymore.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I plan to immediately go to sleep and take a nap. It will be a long day, and once I get handed that diploma, I will have to go to dinner, and then I will have to talk to people. So that night, I will really need to get into bed. Long-term, I hope to start my own business and make my way down to Waco, Texas, because I have special interests there — aka my girlfriend, she’s pretty awesome.