Sylas Grof

Sylas stumbled across his affinity for writing in the horror genre and has enjoyed it ever since.

To senior Sylas Grof, there is one distinct aspect of his future that is non-negotiable: becoming some sort of Urban legend. 

“My ultimate goal in life is to disappear into the woods somewhere—maybe Alaska. I want to just walk into the woods, and never be heard from again,” Sylas said. “I plan to develop and own a company or two, publish a few books, and have a nice little family.”

An aspiration possibly stemming from his love for storytelling, it is in the abounding world of writing that Sylas has taken a considerable liking in all the many aspects curtailed within literature. While he holds a particular liking for dark fiction and other eerie sects of such a genre, he has found that he is able to embrace many different forms of the written word, both by enjoying the work of existing authors and by crafting works of his own. The passion he finds for writing has been an all-consuming force since he first discovered it. 

“I don’t know how surprising it’ll be, but I love writing and creating stories and imagery of things and concepts that wouldn’t or shouldn’t exist otherwise—usually horror monsters,” Sylas said. “I don’t like having limitations. I just love stories, reading them, listening to them, watching them, and reciting them. Once I realized I could create stories, as long as I had a good enough idea, there’s nothing else I wanted to do more.”

Another such outlet where Sylas is able to channel his creativity is through social media, where he has been able to display a macabre of darkly poetic, mystical content that further showcases the affinity he takes with the horror genre. Although talented in such visual and special effects online, his internet presence has not always been an outlet in which he has envisioned himself. Although he finds his online persona comes with somewhat odd contingencies at times, he is grateful for it in certain regards nonetheless. 

“I don’t really like the spotlight I’ve put on myself,” Sylas said, “but I guess it’s kinda cool to be known by everyone. And people say ‘Hi’ to me all the time, but it’s a strange feeling to be known and not really know anyone back.”

Sylas also expresses his personality through his outward appearance, which, although it cannot necessarily be placed into a specific box, is a presentation of his poise along with other factors. While he labels himself as someone with a more introverted personality, his self-contained demeanor should not be misperceived as he notes that he is, despite what may be interpreted at surface level, a welcoming and sociable person who would be happy to carry on a conversation with anyone who wishes to do so. 

“I don’t have enough material to accurately express my style the way I would like,” Sylas said, “but the way I dress on a daily basis I would imagine reflects either how confident I’m feeling, or how cold I am. I know I’m more reclusive and don’t talk to a lot of people, but for anyone that does want to talk to me, I promise I’m a lot friendlier than I look.”

After high school, Sylas is planning on taking into account all that the world has to offer, both furthering himself and his family and taking the opportunity to hone skills and broaden his understanding outside of just the classroom walls. Hoping to explore new areas of his life he has not yet had the chance to delve into, his post-schooling era is one he is excited to experience in varying ways. 

“[I plan to] help my dad for a bit longer and travel for a while,” Sylas said. “[I want to] gain some real-life experience and learn some skills and trades. I don’t think I’ll go to college; school really isn’t for me. “

Continuously seeking to carve out a unique path for himself, Sylas plans to embrace life by his own design—focused on writing, self-improvement, and carving out time to obtain hands-on knowledge. Though he may one day disappear into the woods, becoming the urban legend he envisions, for now, Sylas is content exploring new opportunities, honoring his craft, and seizing life’s endless possibilities. After all, he knows that the most special things are never meant to be compared—they’re meant to be experienced on their own terms; to quote a sign he first came across at a gas station and has held dear ever since: 

“The fastest way to kill something special,” Sylas said, “is to compare it to something else.”