Interview of Middlesex Community College Student: Brendan (Feature)

Have you ever heard the piercing, high-pitched squeal of a black vehicle starting up in parking lot D of Middlesex Community College in Bedford?

That vehicle belongs to a student who can be picked out of a crowd. He wears a black hat and grey backpack with the initials B.R.G on the back. He often wears a grey sweatshirt, but is looking forward to sporting his leather jacket to school since the weather is getting colder. This tall, slender male with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a friendly smirk of a smile, that appears to be holding back a laugh, is Brendan Gillen.

Gillen, age 18 from Burlington, is attending his first semester at Middlesex. He chose Middlesex to save money and because he slacked off one year in high school. Once he began to focus and apply himself in school, he did well and got his grades back on track. He made it permanent with a tattoo on his shoulder. “In this bright future, you can’t forget your past,” it says.

Gillen is currently working at the YMCA in Burlington, but is majoring in liberal arts and wants to be a screen writer. Writing has always come easily to him and been something that he enjoys. It is such an important part of his life that he even got a tattoo on his chest that says, “Give writing life.”

Gillen has had a poem he wrote published on www.teenink.com called Speak those Words.

“That is honestly one of the worst poems I’ve ever written,” he said. “I put it out there because I wanted to know what was wrong with it. I want people to tell me how to fix it.”

Taking out his ever-present i-phone, he confirmed his love for Blink-182. His background is Travis Barker, his idol. With a laugh he said, “Travis Barker is my all-time favorite. I, like, have a man crush on him and everything he does.”

Gillen is fascinated by Barker’s tattoos and hopes to get a drum stick or something in honor of him.

Gillen has been to England and would love to live there. He wants to return after he finishes school.

“When I went, all the people there were like, why are you with all these tourists? I fit in so well that they didn’t know I was one.”

Gillen is almost never at home. He frequently attends concerts of any artist that is creative and different. Baseball is something he follows and he is a Phillies fan. He excitedly flashed a shiny plastic card. Starbucks gave him a gold card with his name on it because he goes all the time.

Gillen also enjoys long boarding. He often goes running when he is stressed about life. Visiting Boston is typical on weekends along with hanging out with his best friend, Kyle.

Most people blend in with the crowd, but Gillen has a presence about him. He stands out.

“Get to know me more. I’m gonna be something someday,” he said confidently.

#journalism #feature #middlesexcommunitycollege #mcc #writing