During Sean’s time studying astronomy and physics at CU-Boulder, the “100-year flood” swept away most of his apartment and left many students struggling to attend class while dealing with damage to their homes and property. Thousands were displaced; houses and roads were destroyed. This disaster affected Sean in many significant ways, but one stands out: The flood and its aftermath refocused his search for truth and inspired him to move from Boulder to Denver and change his major to journalism. While completing his journalism degree at MSU-Denver, Sean produced a wide variety of content. Shooting ski and other action footage, covering the Physics Department, completing various photography assignments, and working on a vast array of multimedia projects. However, prospects of a meaningful and decent paying job in traditional journalism were slim. Sean then declared a second major in philosophy, specifically studying European Existentialism, logic, and ancient philosophy. He considered pursuing graduate school in philosophy and was urged to apply by several of his professors, but a similar lack of career prospects plague this realm, like the world of journalism.
After graduating in the spring of 2019 with dual majors in journalism and philosophy, and a minor in linguistics, Sean decided to take a gap year to work, save, and reevaluate his goals for the future. He worked in the food service industry throughout his years of college in several different roles. First as a server, then delivery driver, bar back, and finally as a bartender and manager. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck at the beginning of 2020, and Sean was laid off. He spent a lot of time in contemplation and decided to try his hand at fiction writing. Essay writing and research projects had always been Sean’s passion, but these left his creativity stifled, and with the country descending into the depths of nihilism and depression, Sean began writing; first free writing, then short stories, and now he is midway through writing his first novel, with a second materializing, and another book, A Guide to Waiting Tables, on the horizon. Though he remains unpublished, Sean is keeping busy with work at his current role as a bartender and manager at a local eatery, as well as trying to complete as many writing projects as possible.
Sean currently lives just outside of Denver, with his loving fiancée and their four fur babies, two dogs and two cats. Sean’s path has been one of twists and turns, ups and downs, hardship and prosperity, not unlike many others. However, it has always been one rooted in the search for truth. They say, “do what you love.” They also say, “write what you know.” Sean is taking this time of upheaval and uncertainty to try to do what he loves with what he knows.
Portfolio 