WPSU’s This I Believe / Personal Philosophies and Core Values

I believe that love and support from family and friends is much more than a cliché.

I believe hardship presents opportunity. I am a father to three boys, a loving husband to a beautiful wife, and an educator with the awesome responsibility to instruct our youth. But my life hasn’t always been so pleasant.

I believe in fish – seven fish, to be exact. My family is Italian so we celebrate Christmas Eve with an Italian tradition called “The Feast of Seven Fishes.” There are several theories about the origins and symbolism of the seven fish, but to me, the fish mean family because they bring mine together every year.

When I first get to know someone, I ask them what type of tea they like. It sounds like a strange icebreaker, I know. But there’s more to the subject than meets the eye.

According to my parents, I was obsessed with her from the start. My little sister was born just two years and eight months after I was. To me, her arrival didn't mean having to share my parents with someone else; it meant having a friend whenever I wanted.

I believe walking is a natural act, far beyond exercise. While visiting French relatives in March, I twisted my leg skiing and spent the next three weeks limping around Paris. The limping isn’t important to this story. The walking is.

Simple physical tasks have always been difficult for me. Running the bases in softball, climbing the basement stairs, even reaching for something on the top shelf. I couldn’t do these everyday activities, because for as long as I can remember I’ve always had some sort of pain.

“If you’re gonna play all-stars you have to be dedicated.” That’s what my dad said to me after I found out I made the State College National All-Stars Baseball team. I didn’t really know what he meant, but I replied, “Yes, Dad,” to appease him.