‘… When the other gangs were shooting at them, I was going to be shot at, too.’

Gary Chin, Levittown

“I came to this country in 1967 as an immigrant from Macao, China. We were very poor. My father was unable to leave China at that time, so my mother raised all four of us. I was the oldest. I was 9, my sister was 8, my brothers were 2 and 4. My mother went out to work in the garment district in Chinatown. She would go to work before we woke up, and by the time she came home, we were already sleeping.

“My mom didn’t make much money. An American family found out how poor we were, and the mother, who played the organ at the First Baptist Church in Flushing, reached out to us and saw that nobody was watching us. As the oldest, I had to watch my siblings when I came home from school. The woman quit the church job and started feeding us on the weekend when my mom was working. She bought clothing for my brothers, and she started teaching Sunday school for us at her house. That’s how I came to know Christ at a young age. When I was 5 foot, 7 inches [tall] and 12 years old, everybody thought I would be 6 feet tall. But I didn’t grow any more. I looked mature, so I was sent to work as a dishwasher for a restaurant in Queens. The restaurant, which is still there, was so busy that when another dishwasher went on vacation, I worked 15 hours every day, no days off, all summer long. I did that for five years until I was 17, the same year the Communists in China finally allowed my father to come to this country. I had wanted to quit the dishwasher job many times.

“Being young, you want to hang out with your friends. But I never had a childhood because I had to work. Every time I’d said I wanted to quit, my mother would say with tears in her eyes that I needed to work because my father wasn’t here. It’s hard to see your mom cry. But when my father came, I said, that’s it, I’m quitting. It was the disco era of the ’70s, of John Travolta and ‘Saturday Night Fever.’ I was just partying and hanging out with a bunch of guys. I knew they were Chinese mafia, that they were in gangs. They asked me to join the gangs, and I told them, no, but it didn’t matter. When I was with them, when the other gangs were shooting at them, I was going to be shot at, too. And I joined the Chinatown gang.”

I started thinking that God kept me alive for a purpose.

“My friends and I got into gang fights. One time we were outnumbered, seven to 20. Fighting is nothing compared to shooting. In the ’70s, young people in Chinatown gangs got killed every week. It didn’t matter whether I was a gang member. When they shot at them, they shot at me. Chinese gangs are all over the world, in China, South America, the U.S. and Canada. In the beginning, you got your own territory. When you are young, you are in the street, but when you get older, if you survive, you can get into a lot of things a lot of people get killed for. When you move up, you start to get involved with drugs. Our group was dealing with 20, 30, 40 pounds of heroin. I didn’t want to get involved with that. I just handled the money. I never knew paper money was that heavy. It’s not easy to carry around like in the movies. I was always worried the suitcase would fall open, that’s how heavy money is. One time the whole group made a lot of money. They went to Hong Kong, had a good time. I went to pick up a shipment of heroin that at the time was called ‘China white.’

“When you pick up drugs once, they are going to ask you to do it again, but me being me, nobody can tell me what to do if I don’t want to do it. They asked the member closest to me to get me to continue to do drug things. I told them no; I only take care of the money. Two weeks later, one of our guys got busted, so everybody started to run, some to Hong Kong, some to the Dominican Republic. I couldn’t run because I knew that if I ran, my marriage was over.

“I was 25 when I got married, and by this time, my wife and I had two kids. I loved my wife and my kids, but, like the old saying goes, talk is cheap. I was drinking, never came home and, when I did, I would come home wasted. My wife didn’t know what I was doing. If I continued with this journey, I would be in prison for a long time. If I continued with this journey, my marriage is over. If I continued with this journey, the gang member closest to me might be the one to blow me away. Some of the guys were arrested by the NYPD. In a gang, you’re always afraid someone will rat on you, but nobody ratted on me. I started thinking that God kept me alive for a purpose.”

I’m able to walk, eat and be a blessing to other people.

“During my 14 years in the gang, I never brought a penny of the dirty money home. I gambled it all away. I had to act normal so my wife would think I had a regular job. In 1982, I took the Civil Service test, and the third time, I scored in the 90s, and I got a job as a postal clerk in Great Neck. After six months, there was an opening for a carrier, so I transferred. At first, I was doing different routes, and the last 15 years I got a steady route. The people on my route got to know me, so I made a lot of Christmas tips. We were living in College Point, Queens. I would get up at 5 a.m., get to work, spend three hours in the office and walk a route for 5 hours, get home around 5.

“In 1989, when my friends got busted, I took that warning seriously. I went to Hicksville to buy a house, and the broker happened to be a Christian. She gave me her card. I didn’t buy a house from her, but I looked at the card and went to her church, the Long Island Abundant Life Church which I didn’t know was one of the biggest Chinese Christians churches on Long Island. By 2000, I was doing missionary work in Mexico. I went to a school to become a chaplain and founded a prison ministry. God called me to a prison ministry, I think, because of my gang experience. For 10 years I visited the Nassau County Correctional Facility.

“Today, including preaching and Bible studies classes, I meet with a total of about 450 inmates every month at three correctional facilities. I tell them there’s always hope, and if you come out and need help, we can follow up with you. Before COVID, I taught a class in electrical work in Hempstead for the Nassau County district attorney’s Community Partnership Program. I have a transitional home for up to 15 prison inmates. We help then find jobs. I gave up my car-sales business in 2003 and my post office job in 2008. Most of my crew are still alive, and they are not involved with gangs anymore. I still am friends with them. They all know that I’m a pastor. Two have become Christians. Most pastors only preach three or four times a month. I preach eight times a month. I’m a grandfather, I’m here, I’m alive. When people ask me how I’m doing, I always say, I’m great! I’m able to walk, eat and be a blessing to other people.”

Interviewed by Jim Merritt

‘The fact that I could make a living doing what I was doing made me very happy.’

Maurice Brandon Curry, Hicksville

“I started as a kid. My mom danced, and I was the last child, and my mom always had the hope that one of us would dance. Growing up in Manhattan, I was the only one left. I hated it at first, absolutely hated it. We had a recital, and people brought me presents, and my mother told me I couldn’t open those presents until I performed. And then when I got on the stage, I said, OK, this is cool. I was very young, and I loved it after that.

“I was 15 when I became an apprentice at New York City Ballet. I danced with them about a year and a half, but I wanted to do musical theater. I wanted to do other forms of dance, and that was how it all came to be. I did a lot of musical theater. I never did Broadway, but a lot of regional theater.

I definitely think we have created something very, very special.

“I was always happy to be working; being able to work was a gift. The fact that I could make a living doing what I was doing made me very happy. Looking back on how my role changed, I was always that kid who played with the boxes more than I played with the toys. I could make the box anything I wanted. I naturally fell into leadership positions, putting together little tours or shows here and there, choreographing some things. It kind of naturally evolved.

“I was the director of educational programs at Joffrey Ballet, artistic director of Lexington Dance Theater in South Carolina; I worked with the Boys Choir of Harlem as their choreographer for a while. I’ve done everything I wanted to do. In 2015, a former student heard the artistic director of Eglevsky [Ballet] was leaving and she called me, looking for someone to help them find a new director. I wasn’t interested in the job, but I said sure, I’ll help you find someone.

“But I got empathetic to the fact that these kids needed a leader, and that was what made me take the job. I think there is a historical element to holding this position. Mr. [Andre] Eglevsky started this company to teach kids, and I think that alone was super important — upholding the standards he set from the beginning, while balancing it with how dance has evolved. By upholding those standards that Mr. Eglevsky set from the beginning, I definitely think we have created something very, very special.”

Interviewed by Barbara Schuler

‘I always wanted to be a vet.’

Dr. Joshua Dratch, Bay Shore

“My father practiced veterinary medicine, and I had animals my whole life. I joke that I was raised in the cages. I always wanted to be a vet, but it wasn’t until I really enjoyed the sciences and the mathematics that it became a reality for me.

“After graduating with my degree, I came back to Long Island and worked for a few vets, hoping I would eventually end up working with my dad. I have now been working at the office I grew up in for the last eight years.

“Working with my dad has taught me a lot about the comfortability between a father and a son. We’re able to push each other. It really forms and builds a certain character. I have become more confident and strong because of our working relationship.

The best part of this work is seeing an ailing animal become more comfortable, not ill anymore, and back to their tail-wagging, practically smiling self.

“I think being a vet, people think we don’t want to deal with humans because we only like animals. But the truth is, we feel so connected to the owners. We offer the explanations. We are there in moments of grief and happiness.

“The best part of this work is seeing an ailing animal become more comfortable, not ill anymore, and back to their tail-wagging, practically smiling self. I get emotional just thinking about it. And, of course, the second-best part is connecting that dog back with their owner. It’s really very powerful.

“Losing an animal is so upsetting. I tell families all the time the only thing that helps with grief is time. Of course, we all grieve in our own ways. We see generations of families. Sometimes they eventually come back with another animal. Of course, this isn’t to replace what was lost, but it’s another chance to fill their home with love. We feel honored to be a part of that process.

“We have an amazing group of doctors here. I think there’s something that must be inside of us that speaks to this work. Whether it’s the understanding, the helplessness of the animal, thinking how they can’t talk or say what’s wrong, or that we simply, no matter what, just love being around them. That passion, that drive, that love, that commitment is so important to us as a basis before we even start our day.”

Interviewed by Maggie Rose Melito

‘As I like to say, when puppets come to school, teaching and learning come to life!’

Mary Beth Spann Mank, Riverhead

“I first discovered puppets when I was a child growing up in Buffalo, New York. Saturday mornings found me glued to our tiny TV screen, enchanted by all the puppet friends who lived there.

“Many of those pioneer television shows for kids featured popular puppeteering teams, including Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop, Buffalo Bob and Howdy Doody and Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Moose. Ever since those early years, I’ve held a fondness in my heart for the magical act of using voice and imagination to bring a puppet to life.

“After college, I was hired to teach third grade in Roslyn. I was a bit concerned to discover the school’s social studies curriculum included a unit on Australia, a place I knew almost nothing about. I needn’t have worried.

Many of those pioneer television shows for kids featured popular puppeteering teams.

“As the first day of school approached, I was shopping when I spotted a koala bear puppet for sale. I thought, ‘Hey! I bet that puppet could help me teach about Australia!’ So, I paid $12.95 to make her mine and dubbed her Kerry Koala.

“I couldn’t wait to introduce Kerry to my class. As expected, she was a smash hit. My kids never even complained that my mouth moved when Kerry spoke. I was thrilled. It took a bit of trial and error for me to use Kerry effectively. With patience and persistence, I developed positive puppeteering strategies that worked to grab and hold kids’ attention every time.

“During this time, my puppets and I made volunteer visits to classrooms and taught puppetry workshops to teachers. In 2017, I began teaching for VIPKid, a China-based company that employed teachers from the U.S. and Canada to teach English to Chinese children online. I was eager to see if my puppets would work well in this venue.

“As it turned out, my remote students loved puppets, too! They even began bringing their stuffed animals and dolls to class so they could interact with me and my puppets. I think puppets belong in the classroom. As I like to say, when puppets come to school, teaching and learning come to life!”

Interviewed by Saul Schachter

‘Each piece of clothing has a past, and they are ready to be passed on to someone else to start a new chapter.’

Tiana Schwenker, Babylon

“I guess you can say I have always been an old soul because of my dad, who has always been my inspiration. My dad has been an antique collector for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a little girl, he would bring me to antique shops and flea markets, which is where my fascination for antiquing began.

“I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, where I learned about the modern fashion industry. I remember my first time stepping into a vintage clothing store, and it was at that moment that I knew that I wanted to do something different, not work in modern fashion, but vintage.

“In January of 2020, my junior year of college, I started curating a collection, and that’s when my journey as an online vintage seller began. I started traveling all around the United States and growing my inventory, which then led me to vend at vintage shows in both Manhattan and the Hamptons.

Each piece has a past, and they are ready to be passed on to someone else to start a new chapter.

“Before I knew it, I was planning to open up my very own vintage shop in my hometown, Babylon Village. In April of 2022, my dad and I began renovating the 100-year-old space and making it my own. By removing the modern walls that were built over the years, my dad was able to reveal the original brick walls and wood-plank ceiling, giving its true vintage feel. My dad and I had a vision, and he brought it to life.

“When I see a luxurious 1930s old Hollywood glamour gown or an Edwardian lace cotton voile lawn dress, I am always in awe. The construction, silhouette, material and quality of these garments are always impeccable.

“Learning about the origin of these pieces of clothing, as well as connecting with the original owners, will always be inspiring. Each piece has a past, and they are ready to be passed on to someone else to start a new chapter.

“Opening up my store has allowed me to connect with new people that have similar interests and learn about past experiences. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity, and I hope that more and more people will appreciate vintage and its true authenticity in the same way that I do.”

Interviewed by Maggie Rose Melito

‘Dogs will come into your life for a reason.’

Josephine Ciuzio, Plainview

“Fifteen years ago, my husband and I got a bulldog, Bella, from a backyard breeder, thinking that was the right way to go about it. There is just so much overbreeding, especially with French bulldogs. This led me to look into bulldog rescues, and I now volunteer for the organization Hurley’s Heart Bulldog Rescue.

“Dogs will come into your life for a reason. I’m married with no kids, and for a time, I felt like I had no purpose. I would go to work then come home and repeat. After adopting Howard, our first rescue bulldog, I felt like I had a purpose again. He woke me up. He came into my life at the right time. Howard, named after Howard Stern, was invited to be on ‘The Today Show’ by Beth Stern, who I met through the rescue. He did campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and others. I even brought him to a local middle school for a reading event with students. Unfortunately, Howard passed away in 2019, but he threw us into this crazy dog acting world. Bella and Howard spent eight years together, and Bella was in commercials and starred on the show ‘Elementary.’ It was crazy when they first started getting gigs. I had no idea there were agents for dogs!

“I’m a bit of a dog ‘momager’ when it comes to my dogs. We currently have two English bulldogs, Luna and Minnie, who were foster fails, and a French bulldog named Barney. They’re all social media stars, and they’ve done commercials, modeling, campaigns, shows and live skits. Minnie currently stars on ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ I love being on set, meeting new people and seeing the dogs spreading smiles. I’m also a trainer for dogs on set, and I’ve worked on shows like ‘Blue Bloods.’ When it’s just me and one of the dogs on a gig, it feels like a mommy-and-me day out. It’s all thanks to Howard. He totally changed my life. I feel like he’s always with us watching his little bulldog buddies.

After adopting Howard, our first rescue bulldog, I felt like I had a purpose again.

“We donate some of the proceeds from gigs to Hurley’s, and we bring some of the adoptable rescue dogs to gigs so they can become part of the celebrity bulldog life, too. My husband and I are both so thankful to have our dogs in our lives and for the opportunity to support rescue organizations.”

Interviewed by Melanie Gulbas

‘My grandmother has always been my greatest inspiration.’

Kelly Zhou, Farmingdale

“I grew up in a village located in Fujian, a coastal province of China renowned for its unique oolong and jasmine teas. I was raised by my grandmother. My grandmother has always been my greatest inspiration. She was an avid supporter of education and would always prepare delicious desserts and tea for us to enjoy.

“My childhood was full of sweet moments spent with loved ones, especially with my grandmother’s cooking. As I learned about tea from her, I dreamed of opening a tea shop in her honor.

“As I grew older, my passion for tea only grew stronger. I began to experiment with different blends and flavors and spent countless hours researching the history and culture of tea.

“I moved to the United States after completing my education. I decided to pursue my dream of opening a tea shop. I wanted to create a space where people could come together and enjoy the beauty and complexity of tea.

My childhood was full of sweet moments spent with loved ones.

“With the restaurant business and technology knowledge I gained over the years, I opened my first Yaaas Tea location in Farmingdale. In just a few short months of launching, my tea shop has become a beloved community gathering place, where people come to connect, and enjoy all kinds of traditional teas, coffees and cakes. I have since introduced four additional Yaaas Tea locations across the island, with several more eagerly anticipated to launch this year.

“Just like my grandmother did for me when I was younger, I put the same level of care and dedication into creating the teas that Yaaas Tea offers.

“As a woman who has moved to America to chase her dreams, I completely understand the desire to inspire and encourage others to do the same.

“Remember to stay true to yourself. It’s important to remember where you came from and what makes you unique. Embrace your heritage, incorporate it into your daily life through food, music or traditions. Always remember that with hard work and passion, anything is possible if you set your mind to it.”

Interviewed by Starr Fuentes

‘I didn’t find my drug of choice until I was 22 years old. I had my wisdom teeth pulled. As soon as I put the opiates in my body, I knew that was it.’

Angela Forcina, Commack

“I picked up my first drink at 15, and I knew immediately that the alcohol gave me something that I didn’t have. It gave me peace.

“I didn’t find my drug of choice until I was 22 years old. I had my wisdom teeth pulled. As soon as I put the opiates in my body, I knew that was it.

“The addiction took over and got so bad that I wound up losing custody of my children. I almost died several times, but I knew it wasn’t my time yet. I was in five treatment centers before I finally surrendered and accepted that I was an addict.”

“Eventually I was facing charges. The judge said I could go either into another 28-day facility and get treatment or go to jail. I took the treatment. I kind of knew there was nowhere else to go. I went into treatment, and that was the first time that I really surrendered.

“After treatment, I had to be at Catholic Charities, which was my outpatient program, every day, and then I would go to Narcotics Anonymous, which became a very big part of my life.

“Then, after a year of having [an] immaculate-clean drug test, they gave me full custody of my kids back, and I was able to move back home with my family. I had been staying with my mom. And that’s another process that began. Learning how to step back into my role.

“For years, I had been doing hair in my basement. My mother had four hair salons, so I grew up in this industry. [After] about two years of being clean, I started to build up my following again. My business was booming. But a client had told the town I was working in my basement, and they threatened to take my license away.

“I looked at my husband and I said, ‘This is a sign from God. And this is just another sign that there’s something bigger out there for me. We must open a salon.’”

To every single person who is in pain and struggling with something, there is hope.

“I looked at my husband and I said, ‘I just need you to trust me.’ I had this burning desire. I feel like once you have a burning desire to fight for your own life, there’s a burning desire that comes with everything else that you do.

“I had watched my mother open a business. I had the skills and then put that together with a burning desire to live. It’s going to be an unstoppable situation.

“I was sitting with my husband, and he asked, ‘What are we going to name the salon?’ I said, ‘Hair addict.’ I love doing hair and I’m an addict in recovery. I’m in church basements three times a week saying, ‘Hi, I’m Angela. I’m an addict.’ We both loved the name. The butterfly, which is all over our brand, represents the transformation process. Our salon has been a huge success.

“This work is so significant to me because the women that come in here, I visually can see what the endgame is. It’s a transformation that we go through. What we create here, it’s more than just beauty and hair. It’s about life and overcoming obstacles.

“I’m now on the opiate task force of Huntington. It’s so important to help those who are suffering. It’s also important for me to give back and selflessly, transparently, vulnerably tell everyone who I am.

“I looked at my husband and I said, ‘This is a sign from God. And this is just another sign that there’s something bigger out there for me. We must open a salon.’”

“Today, I have 10 years clean. I am raising three beautiful children with my husband. I’ve owned this salon for six years. We blew up, and I have 25 employees now. I don’t believe it’s because I’m that amazing. I believe that God has a hand on my shoulder, and there was a bigger plan for me.

“To every single person who is in pain and struggling with something, there is hope, and there is a solution. And the way people find that solution is by people disclosing their pain and their truth.”

Interviewed by Maggie Rose Melito

‘At the age of 6, I wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted to fly. I wanted to see everything and be everywhere … What I settled for was to become a flight attendant.’

Vikki Panan, Elmont

“The events of 9/11 changed my life drastically. I’m the first in my family to be born in the United States. My family is from Trinidad and Tobago. My parents were going through a divorce, and it was very difficult for my mom because my parents had their own business. My dad left America and moved back to Trinidad, so I was in New York with my mom and my sister, and it was very hard for her with my dad no longer in the picture. She was used to working with my dad.

“When 9/11 happened, my mom was afraid for our safety, she feared that something would happen to me and my sister because of the way we looked. It’s kind of similar to what’s happening now. I’m not Muslim, but people tend not to be able to differentiate between people from India, people from Pakistan, from the Caribbean. It’s very hard for people who are not of those backgrounds.

“My mom sent us to Florida to live with relatives, but after two months, she made the decision to send us to live with our dad, so I was back in Trinidad and Tobago. I spent age 11 to 25 in the Caribbean, and during that time I found a huge appreciation for my culture. My dad was very proud of our background. He made sure that I knew about carnival and all the local food. I got my bachelor’s degree when I was in Trinidad, and then I started working in a call center for Caribbean Airlines; that was my first job.

“But when I was 25, I said as much as I love Trinidad, I need to get out, I need to spread my wings. I moved back to New York on my own and applied to Delta. It was good timing for me. I got hired quickly as a flight attendant. I don’t know if it was because I was seeing my parents not get along — and I’m pretty sure that’s what it was¬ — but I knew at a young age that I couldn’t sit around and have a family. I wanted to see the world. At the age of 6, I wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted to fly. I wanted to see everything and be everywhere. That’s where it started. What I settled for was to become a flight attendant. It’s wonderful. I’ve seen so much of the world, but there’s so much more I want to see.”

I’m making announcements saying, please help us, there’s a hurricane approaching, we need to go.

“Flying into Hurricane Irma in 2017 was a major point in my career, a video about it went viral. It was just supposed to be a turn for me, fly in to San Juan and come back to JFK. Going to San Juan, the flight was empty, about 20 people. When we got to San Juan, we only had about 20 minutes to turn the plane around–for the passengers to deplane, clean the plane and get around 180 new passengers back on board.

“That’s really fast, normally boarding alone takes 40 minutes, and now we’re trying to do a whole turn around in 40 minutes. It was hectic, I’m making announcements saying please help us, there’s a hurricane approaching, we need to go. That particular flight was the only flight that got in and out of San Juan during the hurricane. Some of the flight attendants were scared. One of them was crying, I told her it was ok, we wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t safe. You have to trust the pilots. It was a quiet flight, passengers clapped upon landing. The pilot hugged me. It was a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

“I enjoy where I’m at right now. Recently I took on the role of purser, a more managerial position. I manage a group of eight to 10 flight attendants on trans-oceanic flights. I have to be sure everyone does what they’re supposed to. Some of my pet peeves? Passengers who walk into the bathroom barefoot, I just don’t understand. And not paying attention to the seat belt sign. Or people touching the entertainment system with their toes, you can’t believe how common that is. I can’t believe I have to tell grown adults to not do that.

“My most memorable trip so far was Japan; we went on vacation for my boyfriend’s birthday in October. My whole life I’ve always dreamed about Japan. The people are so respectful and calm, they think about everything that they do. I want to incorporate that into how I live my life. With the holidays coming, I’m going through a spiritual transformation. People are very sensitive — I’m one of them. I lost my dad five years ago, and I want to say that if people are experiencing grief and loss during the holidays, they need to know that they will be ok, that they will get better. I’m a living example of that.”

Interviewed by Barbara Schuler

‘Every time that I would go to the dentist, I went to spend time. He would show me a magic trick and then we’d perform them for the hygienists and the secretaries.’

Brandon Axelrod, Commack

“When I was 5, I tripped and fell in the shower. My two front teeth got pushed up into my gums. I remember like bleeding all over the place. My parents rushed me to their dentist. He sat me in the chair immediately, and I started laughing the whole time — and without the use of laughing gas. He was just so funny.

“He took a gauze pad that you used to stop the bleeding, and he put it in my mouth. He snapped his fingers, and he pulled out a red sponge ball that magicians use. It was in that moment that I knew I wanted to do learn to do that.

“Every time that I would go to the dentist, I went to spend time. He would show me a magic trick and then we’d preform them for the hygienists and the secretaries. He would show me X-rays and the different instruments, too. So, there was also this introduction to dentistry.

“He had mentioned to my parents at some point like, ‘Brandon should maybe go take lessons in New York City for magic.’ So that’s exactly what we did. As I was taking lessons, someone told me that I should add balloon twisting to my repertoire of tricks.

“I took a lesson for a dog, a sword and like snake. I thought, ‘This is super lame.’ I am 10 years old at this point. I know what kids want. It’s not the dog or the sword, it’s SpongeBob SquarePants, Peppa Pig, or Elmo cooking.

The kids who are the most shocked and surprised are the best. They ask me for a dog because they don’t, they’ve never seen anything more than that.

“I didn’t have too much of a knowledge base when it came to balloon twisting, but I started to realize if you learn one design, you can switch the colors to make another. That was like the beginning of me learning how I was going to diversify myself. I told myself, ‘I’m never going to say no to a request that comes my way. There’s got to be a way that I can figure it out.’ And I kind of just did.

“Essentially, kids give me all the inspiration. Not only do they know the movie and TV characters, they’re also my biggest critics. They’ll say, ‘You know Mario has the two yellow buttons on his overalls. You have to add that.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, of course I’ll add that.’

“Over the years I’ve gotten, ‘Maybe you can add like flames coming out of the dragon’s mouth.’ Their creativity inspires the shapes and the creations of everything.

“The kids who are the most shocked and surprised are the best. They ask me for a dog because they don’t, they’ve never seen anything more than that. And I’m like, ‘I’m going to make you something cooler. What do you like?’ And then when you start like opening those doors, the kids open up, and it’s a cool connection. And if they really do want a dog, I make a very detailed character with like multiple colors, and there’s like a tongue hanging out and like a dog tag.

“My business is all word of mouth, so it’s been special seeing people vouch for The Magical Brandini and saying how much they loved having me at an event.

“I’m in my third year at the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. I know I’ll eventually incorporate my craft into my office, just how my dentist did. I’m always going have my office loaded with the balloons and everything that I need to make any creation that’s requested.

“Right at the beginning of my magic-and-balloon career, my dentist was diagnosed with ALS. It disabled his magical mind and hands. He was no longer able to practice dentistry or to mentor me. His passing has motivated me to continue to develop my talent and to share the wonderful gift he dealt to me on the day we met, and I can only hope to someday, just like him, embody the magic of dentistry while putting patients at ease.”

Interviewed by Maggie Rose Melito