Managing a schedule consisting of music and social activism, freshman Matthew Sechler finds a comfortable balance.
While putting time aside to read about world problems and always being aware of national and worldwide events, Sechler also works at homeless shelters, attends pride events, and cleans up the city.
“Matthew has been extremely interested in social issues since as long as I can remember,” Pete Sechler, his father, said. “He is concerned about social equity, environmental sustainability and freedom of expression. He is a challenging, but interesting person to debate with because he thinks about both sides of an issue before forming his position.”
M. Sechler continues to inspire kids to be comfortable with who they are by helping friends be comfortable with themselves.
“I’ve helped friends open up with their sexuality and their belief system or lack of one and I will continue to because there is no reason why someone should feel like they aren’t a part of society or they’re useless,” M. Sechler said.
Along with his activism, M. Sechler is also a talented musician.
As a 5 year old, M. Sechler remembers listening to Van Halen and Led Zeppelin with his dad and listening to rap with his older brother. At age six he found a calling in music which started with piano and quickly sprung to drums, guitar and bass.
“I love music because it is a beautiful way to express yourself. In the words of a $10 necklace I got off of Amazon, ‘When words fail, music speaks,’” M. Sechler said.
As a freshman, it can sometimes be awkward or hard to meet friends. For M. Sechler, this wasn’t a problem at all. In fact, he plays in Hit That Lick, a band with juniors Bryce Hayes and Thomas Leath, senior Jordan Crain and sophomore Ander Coggeshall. The band plays Ska and punk, and turn metal songs into Ska type songs.
“[My music taste] was inspired by the Supervillans and the Expandables,” M. Sechler said. “They played a dirty and upbeat kind of music that I loved and made me happy.”
M. Sechler and his band will perform “Dammit” by Blink 182 at Brave Aid on Jan. 22.