We all have a myriad of influences in our lives that shape who we are. People, places, relationships, family, classes, events, songs -...

I started playing guitar when I was nine. My dad had this beautiful nylon-stringed Goya guitar from the 1960s, but he rarely ever played...

My dad first taught me how to play tennis when I was five. He played at the Columbia Tennis Center in the northern tip of Manhattan....

Growing up, I was a sensitive kid that spent a fair amount of time alone. My folks were often busy working, particularly my father. He...