On a gloomy Thursday evening, at the Starbucks located in Chinook’s Chapters, I sat down with one of the brightest and effervescent young people I have met. This is not an understatement. Serena is one of the most intrinsic people you will ever have the good fortune to know. With her writing, she has tackled social issues and anything and everything that life may throw in your way. Throughout it all, Serena has been able to put her own twist to things and has always been able to maintain her voice along the way. So with the backdrop of middle-aged shoppers, countless laughs, and the oddest Starbucks order known to capitalist North America, I sat down to interview Serena.
Rebecca: What initially motivated you to join Youth Are Awesome?
Serena: Some of you may know Nikki Negre–we’ve been best friends since Grade 7 and she got into [YAA] because she met another Calgarian who blogged on an exchange trip. After being convinced of how cool it was, she informed me about it saying, “Hey Serena! You love to write. You should really do this.” I love reading and writing especially just about life. I also used to blog a bit on Tumblr and I would always write my everyday thoughts and opinions.
R: Why do you like to write so much?
S: I don’t know, I’ve just always liked writing and reading. In Drama, they asked us what our autobiography would be in six words. It probably won’t be six words as I am trying to explain myself here, but it was just the fact that you are awestruck when you can’t find the words for something. Words help me. I have never been good at public speaking, presentations, or giving speeches, and I can’t draw, so writing is an easy way to express myself.
R: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
S: Most of my friends and even just other people come to me and ask  for advice. I feel like 90% of this world is able to give advice, but never really take it for themselves. I think my stronger posts are when I tackle personal issues, like post-secondary for example. School has always terrified me and the whole notion of, ‘What am I going to do for the rest of my life?‘ I like to talk about these types of struggles and feelings because I don’t think people talk about them enough. It’s good to express those thoughts because then people think, ‘Hey I am going through the same thing,’ and maybe it can help them in a way. I don’t think I am an activist, but I would like to be there one day.
R: Before I met you, one of my favourite posts on YAA was “Post Security High School Blanket”. I didn’t know who had written this amazingly insightful work that helped me so much at that time. How did you find the idea to do a blogpost on that?
S: A lot of my friends were getting conditional acceptances to schools at the time and I didn’t know what I wanted to do yet. So I Â talked about how some people were so confident in not going to school at all after high-school and those who were all about school in their future.
R: You mentioned a lot about writing about issues and you’ve written about social issues, like mental health. What kind of issues do you want to write about in the future?
S: Mental illness has always been something that I have been passionate. Everyone struggles. Sometimes people go through experiences that they don’t want to remember or talk about. Certain social aspects can come easier to some than others. but even though you can have an amazing social life, you can still be going through a lot of things internally and at home. Things that you may not feel comfortable having others know or discussing openly about it. I like to talk about things that pertain to these types of issues, especially for teenagers because I personally found junior high a very difficult time for me. So I want to aid people through that process. I want to make posts on a personal level. I know we get a lot of opportunities at YAA to go watch a concert or go to a screening, but I have always been more of an intimate person when it comes to people and enjoy writing about more personal issues that affect everyone.
R: Along with your more serious posts, you’ve also written posts about music, as seen with “Soundtracks to life.” What is some of the music a part of your soundtrack right now?
S: City and Colour, definitely. It was my first concert and it happened last year. I know, everyone saw Britney when they were seven, but here I am, first concert, and I was sixteen. Music-wise, I am very broad. I like Childish Gambino, getting into the rapping scene. One of my friends, Ethan, who I interviewed for a blog post, he’s really into punk and rock so I am warming up to it, as well.
R: You’ve done quite a few movie reviews, so what is your favourite film?
S: Oooh, I do not know.
R: It’s ok not to know.
S: Well, I really like watching romcoms. Even though you know it’s predictable, I still want to see it. I also like art films. I don’t get them, but I still like to watch them. I’m being cultured right now. (Laughs)
R: Do you think writing and blogging is going to help you with what you want to pursue in the future?
S: Definitely. I have been looking into journalism programs, so I want to apply to schools, such as Carleton and Mount Royal University.
Or I want to become an English teacher. I had the greatest English teacher. She made everything better and amazingly interesting. I mean, I can proofread really well–so I think I could also become a great English teacher. (More laughs)
R: Since we are at Chapters, surrounded by books, what are your greatest literary influences?
S: My sister is going to read this, and think I am a total poser (laughs), but I’ve read two John Grisham novels and they were great. Then I stopped because they are all along the same lines about lawyers. What else…Harry Potter. Everyone loves Harry Potter. I’ve read the series three times, and I have always noticed something new.
I also like to read autobiographies and biographies.
R: Any specific ones you’ve read?
S: (Hesitantly) Russell Brand’s. Not the most appropriate one I could’ve read, but it was definitely a good one. He is a weird human being. I read it for my Grade 9 English project and I had to “interview” him and film it. So I drew a mascara beard on my face and my hair was really short from being shaved–context, I shaved my head for cancer–I also put some sunglasses on and had a terrible British accent.
R: You seem like a very sociable person. Why do you think you are so intrinsically drawn to people?
S: People are just interesting. I have this older friend and she was on the train talking to a man in his 60s. I assumed they were family friends. When we got off, she told me that she didn’t know him at all and that if you don’t talk to people, you’re never going to know their story. I know it may be one of the most cliche things someone could say, but when you actually break it down and think about it, it is actually so true. You are going to meet so many people who you know nothing about, or maybe even those you think you know everything about will still hide things from you. So talk to people and give it a chance. I know people have cliques high schools, but I have always found it is those unexpected people that you can converse with really well. What if you become best friends with that person? What if they are able to broaden your perspective? It’s cool. People are cool. Super cool.
Wise words from a wise young woman. It was an absolute riot and pleasure to interview Serena. To see more of what Serena’s been up to, check out her Youth Are Awesome page here.
