Faces of Long Island celebrates the uniqueness of everyday Long Islanders. In their own words, they tell us about their life experiences, challenges and triumphs. Newsday launched this social media journey into the human experience to shine a light on the diverse people of this wonderful place we call home.

‘Navigating the world at a larger size is difficult in so many ways. I don’t know why people can’t just be okay with me the way I am. It’s part of the package!’

East Norwich

“I grew up with a fraternal twin brother who is skinny. People were always comparing us. From day one he was smaller, and then he was taller and blonde, so we looked nothing alike. He never struggled with being picked on for being fat; I was teased relentlessly.

“In college I was surprised when people didn’t tease me for being fat. That was when I realized people might like me for my personality. Now I am a teacher’s assistant with special education classes. One of my worst moments was when my class was on a field trip at Garvies Point. We had to climb high stairs from the beach. I’m supposed to be there to support the kids and the teacher, and she had to take my hand and hold onto me to get me back up off the beach. I had to sit down afterwards. It was so embarrassing.

I was unsure at first, but my nutritionist said I had until the moment I was in the operating room to change my mind. When I realized I had that freedom I didn’t feel pressured.

“Sometimes at school I couldn’t walk to my car at the end of the day without stopping to take a break because my back hurt so much. I couldn’t exercise to lose weight because it hurt to stand. That was when I decided to have weight loss surgery. I was unsure at first, but my nutritionist said I had until the moment I was in the operating room to change my mind. When I realized I had that freedom I didn’t feel pressured. I chose the sleeve, which is where they remove a portion of the stomach. It felt like it took forever to get to the surgery. They wanted me to lose weight beforehand and go to meetings each month.

“I lost 80 pounds before the surgery. I lost some weight afterwards, but not as fast as I thought I would. The program worked, but you have to stick with it and it’s tough. Navigating the world at a larger size is difficult in so many ways. I feel like everyone is looking at me when I get on planes. I didn’t fit in the school auditorium seats, so I would sit on a folding chair in the back. I can’t buy clothing on clearance because if I wait, the items in my size won’t be available. I’ve had people roll down their windows to scream, ‘You’re fat!’ Do they think it’s a secret? What is their motivation? I’m at the point where I wonder why I can’t just be happy as I am. I have a pretty full life. I don’t know why people can’t just be okay with me the way I am. It’s part of the package!”

‘Alcohol and drugs robbed me of remembering the joy where my gifts were able to take me but getting sober did redirect my creativity.’

Copiague

“It was a constant struggle growing up in a religious home, wanting to be an entertainer despite my parents wishing I’d become a leader in the ministry. It was alcohol that became my avenue to escape both the difficulties of performing and the path my parents expected of me.

“After graduating from a performing arts conservatory, I took jobs entertaining, singing and touring on the Caribbean, then across Asia, Europe and the U.S. for several seasons. My body began to require a break, not just from touring but the combination of poisons I was taking into my body and the rigorous movement required for me to perform the way that I do.

“My rock bottom was the point where not only was vodka not getting me drunk anymore, but I physically couldn’t function, from getting out of bed to forming a complete sentence without relying on substances. It was rehab that saved my life. It was at an upstate facility where a nurse asked me what day it was as I was being assessed. I had no idea what month we were in, let alone the day. She placed her hand on my thigh and said, ‘April 29th, it is April 29th.’ That’s the day my new journey began.

When I was out in the world, suffering from addiction, my mother would always plead with me to return to church. Although I did not become a pastor like my father, her vision for my life has manifested itself in a way that has become my greatest fulfillment.

As I started to regain clarity, I realized I lost many memories from my musical theater touring days. Alcohol and drugs robbed me of remembering the joy where my gifts were able to take me but getting sober did redirect my creativity.

“I wrote recovery-based songs with a soulful vibe in treatment and then performed them for the fellowship. This showed me that there is a clear intention for the purpose of my existence here on Earth. Now with two years of sobriety, I focus on uplifting others, with motivational videos on Instagram and speaking engagements in the rooms of AA.

“When I was out in the world, suffering from addiction, my mother would always plead with me to return to church. Her hope for my life was to become a leader in the ministry. She has since passed away, and although I did not become a pastor like my father, her vision for my life has manifested itself in a way that has become my greatest fulfillment. Today, I speak in front of crowds of people, referencing a powerful book, that happens to be big, spreading a message of love and hope.”

Interviewed by Ian J. Stark

‘I want to expose people to new titles. If kids see diversity and grow up with it, then it normalizes it.’

Forest Hills

“I loved being known as the piano man. Music created a home for me where I felt noticed when I didn’t at home. I’d take every opportunity I could to play piano for my middle school’s chorus. The school musical took up most of my time. It’s where I felt important. In high school, I would act in the musicals, and then I’d go to the middle school and music direct their shows.

“My family wasn’t active with anything I did. I grew up in Plainview, and I didn’t know any other gay kids. We also didn’t have a single black kid. Now that I’m a high school choir teacher, one thing I love about where I teach is that it’s a very mixed community. It wasn’t until I began teaching that I was immersed in different cultures. I founded the Long Island Musical Theatre Festival (LIMTF) nine years ago because I wanted to find a way to give students a professional theatre experience but in an educational setting to bridge those two things.

“LIMTF is a two-week intensive in which students prepare two shows in two weeks. It gives them a look at how it works professionally. Very few students of color audition, and we need much more diversity in theatre. Representation matters. We are currently offering five full scholarships for the high school intensive for students who identify as people of color.

I’ve learned that being a teacher and director of music is about the relationships you build with the kids and their families. Any time you see them there is an instant connection. So many people don’t have those kinds of connections in their fields. I’m so lucky.

“When I started teaching, I never imagined years later I’d do lessons on Judy Garland and the Stonewell Riots. I’d like to be able to do diverse shows like “Big River” and “Ragtime.” It’s sad that we have the capability of doing this material, but for some reason there’s a disconnect and we don’t have the casting required to present it authentically. If kids see diversity and grow up with it, then it normalizes it. We’re hoping it enriches their lives and shows them that there are many ways to make a living in the field of musical theatre.

“I’ve learned that being a teacher and director of music is about the relationships you build with the kids and their families. I’m with them four years and we get so close. Sometimes, after they graduate, you no longer keep in touch, but any time you see them there is an instant connection. So many people don’t have those kinds of connections in their fields. I’m so lucky.”