I was grew up in the small predominantly Italian, heavily liberal Chicago suburb of Westchester. My time spent there provided me with a number of valuable lessons into why people do what they do, and why they frequently are afraid to change actions; even if they have negative consequences. I moved to the affluent Chicago suburb of Downers Grove at age 11 and had an extremely difficult time adjusting to the shift in my neighborhoods priorities and dreams. I think my writing reflects this.