Profile—
Conversations over coffee: Introducing Jeramy Sewer
by Dalena Hardy, posted Dec. 7, 2007
There is a common saying that everyone has a story to tell. An individual is bombarded with many people daily, and usually, the interactions are so brief that they go unnoted. But on occasion, one talks to an associate or stranger and discovers that individual’s story.
Corner Post: What do want people to say after they meet you?
Jeramy Sewer: I want them to say ‘Damn!’ I want them to think I’m good-looking, successful, nice … someone they would want to get to know and be friends with.
It is hard not to notice Sewer. He is often wearing a stylish, tight T-shirt that highlights his petite yet toned frame. His hair always has just the right amount of curl that always maintains it shape. He describes himself as eccentric, approachable and multi-faceted. You will find that he is always smiling, and if you ever find yourself having a conversation with Sewer, you too can’t help but smile because he is so real.
Sewer is 19 years old and a sophomore journalism major who is anticipating starting his sequence next year. He is the exotic blend of Mexican and black. Sewer spent his childhood between San Bernardino, Calif., and Blue Springs, Mo. Sewer lived with his mother in California until her death. He was 9.
“It was the hardest thing I ever had to go though,” he said. “I love my mother; she is the most important person in my life.”
In his mother’s memory, he has her name, Blanca, tattooed on his side.
Sewer described life in Blue Springs as happy for the most part.
“Blue Springs is very socially and economically stratified,” he said.
Despite this, he never found life there too difficult, even when he confirmed he was gay the summer before his freshman year of high school.
Sewer survived the dramas of high school and is now trying to get through college.
“I feel like I have to be out of Missouri as soon as possible,” he said.
As for post-university plans, Sewer has but one goal.
“I want to be rich,” he said. “I want to be happy being rich.”
Sewer values his extensive network of friends and associates. One person he identifies as an influence is Samantha Battles, a sophomore also from Blue Springs. Battles and Sewer met 10 years ago when Sewer’s family moved in the house across the street.
“Jeramy has been my best friend for a long [time] and now we live together,” Battles said. “I have known him for so long he is more like another brother than a friend. In high school, people would ask us if we’re related.”
Junior Rochelle Evans has known Sewer for nine years.
“Jeramy is the type of person that will make fake people cry, that laughs at everything and stays up all night with you when you are hurting,” she said.
Relationships are very important to Sewer. He likes to meet new people, and when he doesn’t know someone, he likes to say something random.
“You can tell what kind of person they are by their response,” he said. “You will know if you can get along with them.”
Sewer says his biggest turn-off is ugly people. He claims “ugly” is an umbrella term directed at those lacking in physical appearance, social skills and a positive attitude.
Intimate relationships are important to Sewer, but he said he has never been in love.
Despite this, he is able to identify the characteristics he wants in a partner.
“My ideal man is taller than me and muscular,” he said. “I am a sucker for big biceps and a six-pack. He is smart, sweet and someone I could argue with and not have to question the relationship.”
An issue of importance to Sewer is gay marriage.
“Having it be a right is another way to say we are just as good as heterosexuals,” he said. “The status quo says we’re below … it seems like someone else is making the decision for me.”
Like most people, Sewer has his concerns. One of which is not being able to find love and another is failure.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m not going to be good enough,” he said.
Corner Post: What does the future hold for Jeramy?
Sewer: I don’t want to be old and wrinkly. I don’t want to walk with a cane. I do, however, want to look back on my life and say, ‘Damn, I had fun.’ I want to have lived everyday to the fullest.
Corner Post: What does Jeramy want out of life?
Sewer: I want to travel, make a lot of money, a good man, friends I can tell my secrets to, and I want my family there to remind me where I come from. I want to impact as many lives as possible.
Corner Post: What has Jeramy learned?
Sewer: I learned not to have negative people keep me down.
It is hard not to remember a person such as Sewer. Few people are as uncanny.
“He tells it like it is and he’s real,” Evans said.
