A Life Shaped by Storytelling

Sebastian Modak (Class of 2006) has had a lifelong love for stories and storytelling. It all started with Calvin + Hobbes, Tintin, and the phantasmagoric world of science fiction and fantasy. Today, he creates his own stories — visually and through the written word — as a freelance travel writer and multimedia journalist. His works can be found in such widely read publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, and Lonely Planet, where he is currently the editor-at-large. He’s also pursuing a slew of independent projects, requiring him to tap into the skills he learned and honed at JIS as a still-nascent writer studying under the tough-love tutelage of Margo Roby and James Penha.

“In general, JIS was a place where I constantly felt challenged to think a little harder and push myself to bring new perspectives to my creative life. Margo Roby and James Penha were two of my high school English teachers who really pushed me towards a career in writing, even if they — and I — didn’t know that’s what was happening at the time,” Sebastian explained. “Ms. Roby was always encouraging us to take on independent projects of our own design, which made me fall in love with the craft because I was doing it for my own reasons, not just for an assignment.

"Dr. Penha, on the other hand, really made me hone my hard skills as a writer. He could be a tough critic — I distinctly remember him tearing apart my college application essay. But it was just because he knew what we, as students, were capable of. When it comes to my career as a writer, I owe a lot to so many of the teachers at JIS.”

The added push seemed to have worked because Sebastian went on to study at the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in English and history while minoring in music and African studies. An ensuing Fulbright Fellowship in Botswana challenged him in the art of visual storytelling by documenting the local hip-hop scene, which was followed by a “stint in documentary television.”

Then came a chance at travel writing, and thanks to his multicultural experience at JIS and globetrotting childhood, he discovered that he was most comfortable in new surroundings and meeting new people. This, he said, was why he not only enjoyed his work but was also good at it.

“Growing up surrounded by people from different cultures, a guest in a country that was not my own, lent me an open-mindedness and a curiosity that made me wind up with the career I have. It also made me better at that career,” he said. “I’ve never been comfortable enough anywhere to call it home, and I think that means that I approach travel with a sense of humility that helps me connect with people and tell stories about the world at large. At least I hope it does.”

His skills were put to the ultimate test when he was tapped by The New York Times to be its 52 Places Traveler in 2019. Both a dream come true and an immense responsibility, the assignment called for him to visit 52 places across the globe in 52 weeks in search of not just picture-postcard destinations but also “compelling stories in each stop that would resonate with a wide audience.”