Every day he wakes up at 6 a.m. He catches the bus and arrives at school. Three days a week he works and those days are a little longer. One bus to school in the morning, two buses to work and one bus home. He comes home most of the time to an empty house, almost as if he lives alone. He is senior Michael Nuci.

His dad is rarely home, he explains. The absence of his father is due to work. “When I get home I have to always make my own food because right when my dad gets home he goes to sleep,” Nuci said. “It’s like he avoids us or something.”

In addition to the absence of his father, Nuci has other obstacles to overcome. On top of holding a part-time job, having little transportation, and basically taking care of himself he works diligently in school to get sufficient grades.

However, success hasn’t come easy to Nuci. During his sophomore year his mother died of cirrhosis of the liver. She was rarely in Nuci and his brother’s life, he explains, because of her drug and alcohol addiction. “I remember I visited her one time sophomore year. When I first saw her, she said we’re going to spend time together in the summer and then shortly after she just died.”

Although his mother’s death was a difficult time in his life he continued to excel in school and pursue his goals. “I plan to go to the army, so (my father) doesn’t have to provide for me,” he said. “And when I’m out I’ll go to school.”

When talking about education, Nuci says English teacher Erica Dei Rossi has been instrumental to his success. “Every time I turn in good work she tells me I can do better and she wants to push me to my fullest potential.”

Some days are harder than others, Nuci said. During his college application process he could barely get the information he needed to fill out financial aid forms. The difficulties he experienced were a result of the lack of communication between him and his father because he works so much.  But although it’s difficult for him at home he doesn’t allow anything to disrupt his path to success even on his most difficult and exhausting days. “I look at my life and I always ask myself one question: ‘Do I want better?’”