# data[].attributes.body
I am from family photos on the walls,
accomplishments hung on the fridge,
and Frank Sinatra playing quietly in the kitchen.

I am from trees and trails,
the sound of coyotes in the woods,
beautiful sunsets on the water,
and neighbors stopping by for cookouts.

I am from pasta and meatballs,
family dinners every Sunday,
ice cream cake on every birthday,
and cookie baking for holidays.

I am from "love you to the moon and back",
"Slow and steady wins the race",
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger",
and "no one can be a better you than you."

I am from Karen and Justin,
grandparents, aunts, and uncles
a long line of hard workers,
and the most supportive and loving family I could ask for.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from statues, bookbags, and
large cooking pots,

Ready for use and to create
memories.

Time spent well, communication
had, and family surrounding the
table.

I am from bright lights and loud
conversations, church bells
ringing and children’s laughter at       the park, and the quiet nights
where owls can be heard.

I am from pasta and meatballs,
potatoes and turnip, and ice
cream sundaes for the little
ones.
Fruit and veggies everyday (but
sneaking pizza on the weekends)

I am from “We are the Bazzinotti’s,” “If you don’t have anything nice to
say, don’t say anything at all,” "I
love you to the moon and back,"
and “God works in mysterious
ways.”

I am from Anthony, Anthony, and
Anthony, from Marie and
Jeanette, and William and Jack.
A line of first responders, teachers,
and public service.

I am from a hardworking legacy,
responding with love and
commitment.

- Emi Bazzinotti

# data[].attributes.body
I am from the memories,

family pictures covering the walls,

certificates of achievement on the fridge,

and a collection of antiques in the glass cabinet.

I am from a main road,

fast cars and noisy sirens in front,

young children playing together out back,

and lots of playful dogs all around.

I am from Italian food,

baked ziti, meatballs and garlic bread,

pepperoni pizza every Friday.

Best of all, chocolate cake from Ginger Betty’s on my birthday.

I am from “the apple doesn’t fall from the tree”,

“treat people with kindness”,

“just do the best you can”,

and everyone's favorite, “make good choices”.

I am from Sheila and Patrick,

the kindest woman who works with the elderly,

the funniest man who fights crime everyday as a police sergeant,

my two heroes who have shaped me into the person I am today.

Bella Buonaugurio

# data[].attributes.body
I am from rock and roll and yankees signs

From books and magazines

From warm smiles and pets at every turn

I am from vast fields and hiking trails

Beautiful sunsets and stargazing on summer nights

Dad’s famous soup on the cold winter days

I am from little Italy, where the house reeks of sauce

Lasagna and chicken parm for every holiday

Except maybe corn beef on St. Patty's day

I am from “worry about yourself, self you worry”

And “this too shall pass”

Or “luv… forever and a day”

I am from Kim and Ken,

We are from hard workers and veterans,

A long line of impressive men and women,

We are a family who truly values one another.

# data[].attributes.body
Personal Culture

I am from fleur de lis, fleur de lis, and fleur de lis decorating the house,

The French symbol come to life when surrounded by friends and family,

Memories of New Orleans past bring joy to everyone who enters.

I am from fresh lavender,

The scent fills the room with memories of running around picking lavender from the old bush,

Picking flowers with my parents at Old Westbury gardens,

Bringing home dozens of flowers to lay across the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms.

I am from Irish soda bread and Pizza Rustica,

The smell of the warm crust fills your stomach,

Everyone gathers around the table laughing and remembering the good times,

Raisins fill the bread with sweetness and fresh Italian meat crowd the cold pie,

Flour covers me from head to toe.

I am from “Breath in confidence, exhale doubt”,

“Be the good you wish to see in the world”, and “You know yourself best”,

All preparing me to be the best version of myself I can be,

Have confidence in yourself.

I am from Michael and Maira,

Who waited so long for me,

And Grammy, who wanted to be called grandmother, but her nickname fits,

All kind souls with big hearts.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from playing outside and playing outside some more,

spring days spent at the Lacrosse field,

for as long as I could remember.

I am from the typical middle class neighborhood, with a good neighbor here and a shady neighbor there,

the beach and the Mount Hope bridge just down the street,

the sound of kids running around on a warm summer’s night,

and the sound of a ball bouncing, asking for me to come and play

I am from morning pancakes

and some sort of chicken for dinner,

chocolate cake on my birthday,

with a special choice of the meal

I am from “the side-street”,

“if you don’t have nothing nice to say, don’t say nothing at all” and last but not least,

“don’t 🤬 on my leg and tell me it’s raining”

I am from Patrick and Tabitha Cooney, alongside Nora, Mairin and Grace

A long line of Irish,

I am from a family of hardworking people

# data[].attributes.body
I am from collections of sea glass and seashells,
with family photos all along the walls,
and books of memories,
all within a tiny house.

I am from kid playing, dogs barking, fires burning,
Adults walking and running,
neighbors smiling and waving to each other,
and families supporting families

I am from big breakfasts,
with loads of eggs and bacon,
while spending hours making spaghetti and meatballs,
all to end the with our famous chocolate chip cake.

I am from "if you dont have anything nice to say dont say it at all".
To "always use your manors and be on your best behavior",
and constantly saying "Its all about the family"

I am from Marcia and Bill,
who have shaped me into the women I am today,
with the help of my sisters, Maddy, Rose and Julia,
along with many others,
who have changed me for the better and taught me life lessons that I will never forget.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from pictures on every wall,

beautiful flowers perched above the fireplace,

and a dog with endless amounts of energy.

I am from mountains and lakes,

the sound of laughter at family cookouts,

neighbors saying hi as they walk by,

and s’mores by the fire all summer long.

I am from eggs and bacon, hamburgers and hot dogs,

turkey club sandwiches with my dad,

And snacking on goldfish with my mom,

I am from my grandmothers huge family dinners

and my grandfather's secret stash of all the good snacks.

I am from “hard work pays off”,

“home is where the heart is”,

and a family who never leaves the house without saying “I love you”.

I am from Karen and Matt,

four grandparents who never miss an opportunity to hug their grandkids,

and my younger sister Abby.

I am from a long line of hard workers, and

people who never give up or take no for an answer.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from photos hanging up on the walls

Years of time spent around close family,

Making memories as time goes by.

I am from corn fields, and acres of woods,

Long driveways and open air,

The sound of dogs barking in the morning,

And the tractor in the fields during spring.

I am from chicken soup during cold winters,

Pancakes after church Sunday mornings,

Large family gatherings for holidays

Tables and tables full of food for everyone.

I am from “You get what you get,”

“Not everything is about winning”,

And “ you need to work hard to achieve your goals”.

I am from the Kopecky family,

Scott and Erin,

The roots of who I have become,

I am from a big, happy, and supportive family.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from walls covered in memories,

beach signs and family photos,

shelves full of favorite movies.

I am from salt air and low tides,

endless walks on the beach,

and sounds of my mother playing piano,

every Monday afternoon.

I am from, chicken adobo, lumpia, and pancit,

fried rice, spam and eggs,

homemade fettuccine alfredo with chicken on my birthday,

and pad thai for Skyler on his.

I am from, “All you need is 15 seconds of courage,” whenever I needed to hear it,

I am from, “Always look out for each other,” to me and my brother,

I am from, my dad always saying, “If you’re happy, I’m happy,”

I am from, principles, “Trust, Consistency, Intentions, and Choices.”

I am from, Kevin and Melinda Lasit,

two people who put everyone else before themselves,

two educators who have not only raised me but countless others,

two individuals who never hesitate to give a helping hand to those who need it.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from art supplies scattered in every corner of my home,

Afternoons spent with my dad working on projects,

Grocery lists sprawled on the countertop,

Rushing to put the food away before we could get our hands on a snack.

I am from the smell of the concession stand,

Cheers and shouts being heard from the baseball field a block away,

The smell of flowers blooming in our garden,

The laughs of my brothers and sister echoing in the house.

I am from food on the grill,

Roasting hot dogs over my fire pit every Friday night,

A small coconut cake on all our birthdays,

And desserts piling up in my kitchen.

I am from “Always been kind to others”,

“Believe only half of what you see and none of what you hear”,

And “Always try your best”.

I am from my dad and my step-mom,

A woman who chose to be my mother,

Three brothers and one sister,

I am from people who care about others more than themselves.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from playing catch with my brothers in the yard,

helping my dad rake the leaves into piles,

and roasting Marshmallows in the firepit.

I am from little league games, and team pool parties,

Ruby barking for her breakfast,

Neighborhood kids playing on my basketball hoop,

And church hymns on Sunday.

I am from banana cream pudding and homemade shirley temples,

French toast only on holidays,

Nana’s cheesecake for my birthday,

And a packed school lunch everyday.

I am from “Stupid is as stupid does”,

“Boys! Dinner!”,

“Is your homework done?”,

I am from “Love you more” from Mom

I am from Nate, Michael, Ruby, Mom, and Dad,

The Becker family and Harper,

goal oriented relatives,

I am from hard work, fun, and strong family values.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from a spa.

Large jets and color changing.

Lounging in the backyard looking up at the stars.

I am from a stone deck and a dark brown fence.

Large Evergreen trees surrounding.

Looking out while enjoying Mama’s hot home cooking.

Snowflakes falling as if it were Christmas again.

I am from pizza Friday’s.

Smokey grilled burgers, vegetable chili,

Tri-tip steak on my birthday, and daily Sundae’s

With a treat for the pup.

I am from “hard work over A’s.”

“stop comparing yourself to others.”

“no dessert until you finish your vegetables.” except for brussel sprouts

And “what you do here translates to what you will do on your own.”

I am from Karen, Jason and Kevin.

No, not one of those Karens.

I am from an educator and a television specialist.

I am from proud parents asking me to fight for change in the world.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from nautical rope and oceanic views decorating the walls, making my family yearn for summer as soon as the first autumn leaf falls.

I am from fire station sirens and the scent of campfires from September to May, and when summer rolls around, I fall asleep to the crashing of waves and the smell of the salty sea.

I am from virgin mimosas at Easter, pizza every Friday, tacos on the first Tuesday each month, and when my birthday comes, my family enjoys cake under the July sun.

I am from "learn to love yourself before loving someone else," "Ti amo," whenever I leave my Nana's house, and "don't work hard, work smart," from my uncle.

I am from Liz, Sandra and Donna,
my mother and grandmothers, who raised me from newborn to adult, to be who I want to be.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from hammocks, pianos, and games,
My summers outside by the fire
My winters playing family bored games.
All while listening to the soft sound of the piano.

I am from music and tv traditions.
Charlie Brown each Holiday morning
To singing and guitars in the afternoon.
Seeing all my sisters’ paintings on the walls

I am from flan and cream of coconut,
To Apple Crisp on Christmas.
Breakfast for dinner
And buffets after every sleepover

I am from “Fake it till you make it.”
“As long as you try.”
And “We love you no matter what”
I am from “pep in your step” when I am walking to slow.

I am from Miriam and Raul, Nancy and Ray,
Carrie and Ken
A mix of different cultures from around the world
I am from miracles that have all come together.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from basketball hoops, soccer balls and track shoes,

Sweaty days at the courts and fields ,

Hours training to improve upon skills

I am from fields of green and small town buildings,

Warm sunny days and runs down trails,

The sound of laughter echoing throughout the house,

And the smell of fresh coffee drifting from the kitchen

I am from steamy, comforting soups,

Homemade tortellini on holidays,

The smell of chicken on the barbeque in the summer,

Friday night pizza at the local restaurants in town

I am from “Imagine yourself in someone else’s shoes”,

“Always try and see another perspective”,

“Take it one step at a time”  when things get hard and,

“Sometimes you gotta dig deeper to find your inner strength”,

I am from Laura and Doug,

My loving parents and protectors,

Who raised me to be proud of who I am,

And to be proud of where I came from.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from curtains framing the windows,
With views looking out to the forest,
From pictures on the walls,
Recalling adventures and memories of our shared past.

I am from the tapping of my dog’s paws up and down the stairs,
From the wood floors that creak with each step,
From driving around the bend onto the dead end,
And the smells of backyard barbecues on summer nights.

I am from homemade cakes, cookies, and breads,
And pizza on the weekends
From pene alla vodka on birthdays,
And waffles for breakfast on Sundays.

I am from “treat people the way you want to be treated,”
And “life is not always about about being perfect,”
From “always try your best,”
And “I love you” before going to sleep.

I am from Sue and Dan,
My loving parents who would do anything for me
And my closest friends,
Who I can always count on.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from antique dusty books, hand painted canvases,
picture frames of memories collected through the years, mismatched furniture and pillows, all which got spit up into two unexpectedly.

I am from farms on every corner, with cattle everywhere you turn,
the smell of fresh wood creeping up every fall lasting till the beginning of spring,
the snow filled christmas tree farm after a snow storm,
and the cheers from the pep band every football game Sunday morning through the woods with cowbells ringing in the background

I am from grandma's apple pie, pizza night friday,
Italian cookies, store bought brownie mix,
dad's old restaurants entrees, and crumb cake pizza

I am from “you can only control yourself and how you react to them”,
“kids stop fighting”, “I love you more”,
“make a decision ”,
to any quote in the Rocky movie series.

I am from Susan, Tom, and Charlotte,
Bruce and Muriel, my grandfather who watches over me everyday and my grandmother who never misses the chance to get her lipstick on your cheek or bring cookies to an event
Tony, who has taken my grandfather's place and treated us like his own
Tammy and Tom, my aunt and uncle who took me in as their own
Ed and Lorraine, my grandparents who will always have our backs
Bob who choice to be part of my family when my fathers side of the family had failed, and most my pride and joy; little brother Madden, ten years apart with the most
precious soul I have met,
Along with many others that shaped me into the person I am today, without anything in return.

# data[].attributes.body
I am from playing outside in the backyard,
muddy games with my brother,
to "boys dinner is ready!" and the aqua blue "beachy room"

I am from a long cul-de-sac with great wiffle ball games,
the neighbors broken basketball hoop,
Sunday pasta dinner, and watching the giants lose... again, and the neighbor that gives out full size candy bars on halloween.

I am from moms famous bolognese sauce, "dad is on the grill with burgers and dogs" and
The fresh hand picked green-beans and tomatos

I am from "try your hardest and you will succeed" and "make your bed"
"Take your vitamins",
"eat your veggies" , and "put your equipment away" when practice is done

I am from Stacey, Ralph, and Danny
The Naglieri family on the front stoop
Mam mam and frampy
I am from a long line of Italians,
grandfathers that have served,
and a very hardworking family

# data[].attributes.body
I am from Basketball Hoops in the driveway

And friends around the corner,

Block parties in the summer and

Snowball fights in the winter

I am from the smell of gravy on Sundays

And homemade pasta on the beds

The screams of a loving Italian mother

Who always had change when the ice cream truck came our way

I am from the feast of twelve fish on Christmas eve,

Cream filled Zeppololes on St. Joseph's Day,

The hometown taste of Twin Oaks

And homemade calzones on Sunday

I am from “don’t be a ficcanaso”

when I ask to many questions

to the wise words of my father

“Loyalty is everything”

I am from Tribbie and Eddie Jr

Carmine and Ruth, Densie and Eddie Sr

I am from a long line of Italians,

The proud Zarra clan

# data[].attributes.body
I am from trees and animals

A lone house, buried in the woods

With annoyingly smart friends to guide me

I am from the songs of birds and owls

The squeaks of chipmunks and squirrels

Music of varying genres and the springs in Nerf guns

I am from Mac and cheese Fridays

Tuesday night beans and hotdogs

And Wednesday night spaghetti

Scheduled food for each day of the week

I am from “Watch your language” and “go to the corner”

But also “i love you” and 'few words sometimes means more'

‘the golden rule’ constantly on mind

“righty tighty lefty loosy” repeted constantly

I am from Educators and truckers

A Self-made and an adopted child

I am from the elderly mind and young soul

# data[].attributes.body
I am from statues, bookbags, and
large cooking pots,

Ready for use and to create
memories.
From gillies and dancing at any
moment I can.

Time spent well, communication
had, and family surrounding the
table.

I am from bright lights and loud
conversations, church bells
ringing and children’s laughter at       the park, and the quiet nights
where owls can be heard.

I am from pasta and meatballs,
potatoes and turnip, and ice
cream sundaes for the little
ones.
Fruit and veggies everyday (but
sneaking pizza on the weekends)

I am from “We are the Bazzinotti’s,” "Kristl, Alyssa, Rianna, Susi,
Anthony, Emi: get in the car or
you'll be late for school",
“If you don’t have anything nice to
say, don’t say anything at all,”
"I love you to the moon and back,"
and “God works in mysterious
ways.”

I am from Anthony, Anthony, and
Anthony, from Marie and
Jeanette, and William and Jack.
A line of first responders, teachers,
and public service.

I am from a hardworking legacy,
responding with love and
commitment.

- Emi Bazzinotti

# data[].attributes.body
I am from shopping bags, shopping bags, and shopping bags,

Long hours spent shopping

Around my small little town.

I am from beeping cars, and flooded streets,

Tall green trees and church bells ring,

The sounds of children playing in streets,

And the cheers of high school football down the street.

I am from chicken cutlets, and meatball,

With parmigiana cheese always on top,

Dunkin donuts every morning,

And tomato sauce, pink vodka, and alfredo on every meal.

I am from “love yourself so you can one day love someone else,”

“Clean your room or you can’t go out,”

“Did you finish all your homework” and “do you need any help,”

I am from “I love you” every time I walk out.

I am from Laura and Joe, Nick, Gabby, and Robert,

Cathy and Peter,

Hard working parents

I am from loving people who help me change and grow.