I am from Ghost in the Graveyard with neighbors,
karaoke in the living room,
summers on the lake,
and terrible childhood hairdos like afros and mullets.

I’m from “you make a better door than a window,”
“Hi hungry, I’m Dad,”
being called Nicola and Nick-nack-paddy-wack,
and the laughs that followed.

I am from the mystery of breaking my hand at 1,
sitting on the red square in kindergarten from talking too much,
a backyard that stretches for multiple acres,
and entire days spent on our playset.

I’m from hours of rehearsals,
hours of lessons,
hours of auditions…
and all the tears that went along.

I am from hard work and never giving up,

from giving it my all,

from passion and purpose...

and I always will be.