Chapter 1- Early Christmas 
The Christmases of my youth contain some of my most vivid memories of childhood. I remember awakening incredibly early, sometimes when it was still dark, and waking up my brother, and my grandparents, who always spend the night on Christmas Eve. My brother and I would race down the stairs to the family room, where our Christmas tree was located, and tear open the piles of presents. The day was filled with tinkering with new toys, whether that included baking brownies in an easy-bake oven, playing with brand-new Barbie dolls, or trekking outside into the cold to slide down the neighbor’s hill on an exciting new sled.
Chapter 2- Summers 
Everyone gets nostalgic when speaking about the summers of their childhood and teenage years, and I am no exception. My summers have always contained one crucial element: the beach. Since we have always had a house in either Ocean City (when I was very young) and then Sea Isle City (where we still have a house now), my memories of summers past always contain the sound of crashing waves, the feel of sand against my feet and the sun on my face, and the call of seagulls and the ice cream man. Although certain things have changed (the biggest part of my day when I was younger was more about playing games in the sand, whereas now it is going out on the boardwalk at night), one thing has stayed the same: summers will always be about happiness, fun, and adventure. Another thing that hasn’t changed: I’m still apt to encounter trouble in my quest for excitement, although I always find my way out of it!
Chapter 3- Winters 
My father grew up in the Catskills Mountains of New York State, where he developed a passion for skiing, passed on to him by his parents who both loved the cold-weather sport as well. He attended the University of Vermont, and, after graduation, lived in Utah for a year as a “ski bum.” With this in my blood, I was destined for a life of skiing. Christmas breaks are always memorable for the interesting skiing vacations we embark on. While some of my other peers can tell stories of cruises in the Bahamas and tales of laying on the beach in Jamaica, I’ve skied in British Columbia, Canada; Vail, Winter Park, and Steamboat Springs, all in Colorado; and The Canyons, Deer Valley, and Park City in Utah; in addition to having skied in Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada, and in Vermont.
Chapter 4- Middle school and early high school
The middle school years have a reputation for being tumultuous, and they are. There are changes in your group of friends, your family, and in yourself, and school and homework gets harder as well. When I was in middle school, I started horse back riding, and competing in horse shows, which I still do to this day. I now also own a horse, and he is boarded in Chester County.
Chapter 5- Acting
The chapter of my life involving theater starts when I was very young, in second or third grade. My first play was directed by the infamous Loretta Wehbe LaCasse, where I starred as The Country Mouse in The Country Mouse and The City Mouse. I did more plays with Loretta until about 6th grade, when I slowly stopped acting and was involved in less and less theater productions. Also included in this chapter is the tale of my experience on The Laramie Project. This chapter continues up until the present, and Our Town, and hopefully, will continue to include the future.
Chapter 6- Sweet Sixteen 
My sweet sixteen was one of my most memorable birthdays for one simple reason: I went to New York City. While most people remember their sweet sixteen for one reason or another, this could’ve been any birthday, and it still would’ve been my best ever. I had never been to The Big Apple before, and I found myself entranced with this city. The sights, the sounds, the famous people, and the historic and pop-culture landmarks. Almost everything I had ever read about in books or magazines or seen on T.V. was present in this mesmerizing city, and I can’t wait to go back. One reason I love New York so much is that it is full of possibilities, possibilities that are not available in Springfield, Pennsylvania. I remember almost every minute detail, from riding the train up to Pennsylvania Station, to our hotel, The Essex House, right across the street from Central Park, to the Broadway shows we saw: Rent, and Moving Out. New York City is my absolute favorite place in the world, full of passion and excitement and hope, and there is no place else I would ever want to be.
It comes down to reality
And it’s fine with me ’cause I’ve let it slide
Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside
I don’t have any reasons I’ve left them all behind
I’m in a New York state of mind
-Billy Joel
Reading Casey’s thoughts on New York City is like listening to my son Carlton – I took him to the Big Apple for his 12th birthday and to see Cats – he fell in love with Manhattan and to this day is happiest there. One more thing they shared.
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