My name is Tara Nicodemo and I live in New Jersey, home of the Jersey Shore. However, the beach towns are actually nothing like the TV show. I love going to the beach! I am now a freshman at Chapman University and I am very excited to live in nice weather all year round while the rest of my friends and family will be dealing with lots of snow in the freezing winter. I am undecided for now, but I plan to transfer into the film school to study film production and/or screenwriting and possibly have a minor in music. I have attended Catholic school for my whole life. I can finally ditch uniforms and wear my own clothes to school!

I live with my mom, dad, my 17-year-old brother, my 11-year-old sister and my puppy Noel. I love my family even though they are loud and crazy. I especially love my Grandma from Poland. I’m 75% Polish and am proud of it. She can sometimes go overboard with shoving food down my throat, but I love her. I’m also Italian and Hungarian. My favorite color is mint green and ironically enough my favorite food is mint chocolate chip ice cream. I also love pickles.

I have danced since I was three and started dancing in a pre-professional ballet program when I was 14. My favorite accomplishment in dance was being able to dance with the Pennsylvania Ballet in several productions. Ballet was my 24/7 activity. I was never able to go out with my friends and I had to miss a large amount of important events. All of my dance friends began to take up homeschooling. My parents refused to allow me to do the same and wanted me to have a natural high school experience. As I began to see the deprivation from the outside world that my piers were experiencing, I couldn’t thank my parents enough! I also had surgery on my ankle two years ago to repair a torn and enflamed tendon and to release fluid. My ankles have never fully recovered. Since then, my thoughts have changed and I’ve opened myself up to new things.

Music takes up the majority of my life. I play the piano and the guitar and I loved singing in my high school choir. I like all kinds of music, but I mostly listen to classic and alternative rock, alternative pop and minimal, new music on the radio. My friends and I love going to concerts. This year I’ve been to around 20. Without music I would not be complete. It is basically my obsession. I may be judged for this, but I have loved the Jonas Brothers for four years now and I’m not afraid to admit it!

My other hobbies include making movies, playing card games, swimming, shopping, visiting new places, taking road trips with my friends, going to New York City, being with my family and friends, having dance parties and listening to my favorite music.