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Matthew Nolan
Matthew Nolan
00:59

Matthew Nolan

New Orleans, LA USA

"Be around people that are supportive of what you are doing."

Career Roadmap

Matthew's work combines: Art, Writing, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

Writer/Poet

I'm a poet and writer based in New Orleans.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Graduated from college at the top of his class.

  • 2.

    Was encouraged to go forward with academia, but while in school, he'd found his creative side in writing and acting.

  • 3.

    Was flooded with job offers after graduation, but as soon as he almost took one, something said, "This is not right."

  • 4.

    He wasn't sure what to do elsewise, but the job offers started slipping away the further he got from graduation.

  • 5.

    He felt so anxious and out of place, that he became depressed; decided that if he was still in Alabama in a year, he'd kill himself.

  • 6.

    Right before that deadline came up, he saved his own life by hopping on a bus and moving to New Orleans.

  • 7.

    During that journey and during his time living in poverty in New Orleans, he was constantly writing; his journals became his first book.

  • 8.

    He printed up 100 copies and sold them on the street; decided to send one copy to a publisher and they distributed his book nationwide.

Defining Moments

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • I started getting really depressed, hitting rock bottom. I had decided that if I was still in Alabama on the 1st, I was going to kill myself. I felt that bad.