The Basics
Name: Brandon Alvarado
School: Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development, 2019
Major: Media, Culture, Communication
Hometown: Bergen County, NJ
Please Fall in Love with Me (And Other High School Wishes) is Brandon’s first official book about his high school journey and what it’s like coming out to the world. The book was originally written for a small high school senior year project, but without a doubt has touched many hearts and gave hope to broken souls. Sit tight to learn more about Brandon, and how you can purchase his book.
1. Tell us a little bit about where you come from.
“Bergen County, NJ is a very small town with a – likewise – small town mentality. Politically, it is more conservative (even though NJ is a democratic state). Personally, I am very liberal. But, many of the people there were so supportive [when I came out]. Bergen County is, in my opinion, perfect for children or parents. For younger people like me, however, it may be a bit suffocating – especially if you have bigger dreams – but I also know people who say that they wouldn’t live anywhere else, and I support them as much as I would hope they support everyone that decides to leave.”
2. When did your passion for writing begin to blossom?
“Really, [in] middle school. But I’ve always loved writing because you’re able to express emotions you may not be able to express out loud. English has been my favorite subject since middle school, and I wrote about the most random things. I remember writing about some guy who got into a car accident and ended up getting liver failure, which made absolutely no sense. I also remember writing a tragic Arbor Day- themed story in third grade, where the main character chopped down trees every Arbor Day because his dad was killed by a tree falling on him years before. I read it in front of the entire school, and I still wonder if my parents thought twice about my emotional state during that time.”
3. What inspired you to write your book, “Please Fall in Love with Me (And Other High School Wishes)”?
“I was inspired because I, personally being gay, was extremely lucky to have such supportive parents and was able to stay true to myself, living the way I wanted to in my community. Even though I was lucky in that sense, that is not to say that I did not deal with hardships. It was hard at first when I was still searching for my identity, and it was also difficult not being in a relationship because there weren’t many gay people in my town. I wanted to share my struggles with the world and give hope to others who have been or are in my shoes. To add, whenever I would visit Barnes & Nobles, I noticed that the teen non-fiction section was so barren. All the books there were either written by teen ghost writers without clear identities, or adults attempting to instruct teens on how to live their lives. I couldn’t find a real book written by a teenager for other teenagers. It was a virtually non-existent genre, so I hope my book can be relatable to other teens out there.”
4. Is there a specific message you want readers to grasp after reading the book? If so, what is it?
“Especially aimed at teenagers: do not be afraid. I’m not talking about solely sexual orientation. Regardless of what it is teenagers always try to seek perfection, but we all have flaws. For the first time, I am proud to say that I am not afraid to share my flaws with the world. I deliberately wrote my book as if it were a journal, so I could really open up and unveil everything. I’m a real person with real flaws! My flaws are what make me and shape me into who I am today, and I am proud of who I am. I also believe sharing our flaws with each other is crucial, because that is what really brings people together.”
5. When did you publicly come out to the world?
“I came out to my family and friends when I was 14, so that would be the summer before my freshman year of high school. My parents were supportive of me from the start. It did take awhile, but they were never truly unsupportive. I guess I officially came out to the public when I published this book, but I never tried to hide it. Everyone knew – probably before I even knew.”
6. If Her Campus readers would like to purchase your book, where can they find it?
“One way to find my book is to go to Amazon, and just search the name/title of my book. Another way to find it is to go on Barnes & Noble’s online store, and just search the name/title. It’s a cheap read- around 8-10 dollars.”
7. Now, you mentioned that you come from a rather small town. After publishing your book, how was the response? Was there any controversy?
“[They were] very supportive definitely. I was honestly a bit shocked because I was so blatantly honest in my book, yet people still encouraged me so much. Not only friends and family, but even strangers knew of me somehow and cheered me on. It’s a good feeling.”
8. As an aspiring writer, what are your plans for the future? Are you working on any other projects?
“I am aiming to write another book soon, hopefully about my college experience this time. I want to go into the television industry later on. While I am at NYU, I am going to try and work with radio stations (and keep writing of course). Random fact, but I also love tweeting- it keeps me updated 24/7, and I find my own tweets funny, which might be a little narcissistic.
9. Have you ever experienced the infamous writer’s block? If so, how did you break free from it?
“A little bit. It wasn’t that bad though because my book is separated into various essays based on time periods. When I did experience writer’s block, I would just do my best to wrap up one essay, and then just smoothly move on to the next.”
10. As you write, which authors inspire you?
“Mindy Kaling, Lena Dunham, David Sedaris, Roxane Gay. I loved what all of these authors had to say, and they perfectly blended humor with personal anecdotes.”
11. Favorite musician: Right now I’m really into Misterwives.
Favorite Food: Anything fatty honestly.
Life Role Model: Let’s just say I want to be the lovechild of Amy Schumer and Chelsea Handler.
Follow Brandon on social media:
- Twitter: @Brandon_Alv
- Instagram: @Brandon_Alv
- Snapchat: @Brandon_Alv
- Facebook: Brandon Alvarado