Grade: 12

Bio: As Vice-President of both the French Honor Society and the AHS Book Club, all of Sebastian’s passions fall into the realms of writing, literature, and trying super hard to entertain people. He has written for the newspaper, is a Thespian, and is a part of the Pre-Medical Society. Other than science/writing/all-that-jazz, he makes a lot of playlists and binge-watches Grey's Anatomy; all while keeping up with Hunter Schafer's latest projects. Consider him a multi-faceted comedian/writer/organic chemistry fan/biologist/actress/babysitter.

What is your main source of inspiration?

Teenage Melodrama. So much happens just inside you and nowhere else so it feels almost criminal not to share that with someone/somewhere/everyone/everywhere.

What motivated you to write this piece?

Some guy named Michael. He played a cowboy in last year's musical and left for California. Strong poem material, methinks. Or methunks, I'm not that sure of the tenses.

Do you write sporadically or regularly?

Sporadically. Mainly, I write for English class but I put too much heart into it so it becomes Writing-writing.

What artists and/or writers inspired or influenced your work?

Ashley Hendricks, teacher of the Shakespeare Honors course that I took over the summer and ultimate drama/english/film mentor, asked me to write a sonnet so i'd say this piece was born there. Writing and music go hand in hand in my mind so often I'll think of musical artists rather that capture the energy of my thoughts to inspire me rather than writers. Hari Nef is one magnificent writer I always think of when it comes to my artistic voice. Michael, specifically, had me listening to a lot of 'Oklahoma!' and my 'in love with love' playlist (ssebas-04 on Spotify <3).

What was the most difficult part of your writing process for this work?

I wrote this in less than 30ish minutes so it was just trying to take my experiences or ideas or notions about this Michael and pouring it all out.

What is your ideal writing environment?

Either burrowed away in my room at my desk or in the living room with music playing. Love to have a candle burning, very cinematic.

How do you resonate with your piece? Why is it personal to you?

Teenagers may not know what love is but we sure do seem to feel it a lot. It's personal to me because I'm someone who 1) has never been in any sort of relationship, 2) is a hopeless romantic, and 3) falls in love with haste as if its running out.

What message do you hope to convey to the reader through your piece?

This goes out to all of those people who pine and pine and pine (@Zoe, a close friend of mine). Try to avoid loving any actor ever. I'm kidding. No I'm not.