All grown up

I've always been the oldest in my family. First born in my immediate family. First grand child born on each side of my family. I've enjoyed being the first for a lot of things growing up. Next Sunday is another first for me. My first college graduation for one of my brothers. Nick is graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism.

Nick and I have had our moments growing up, as most brothers and sisters do. We've probably fought more than we've been friends, until college. In college I spent much of my time as a resident assistant and graduate hall director in the dorms. When Nick was a freshman he was able to select his residence hall. I was shocked when he chose to live in Mallory Hall, the residence hall I supervised. Actually, I was more than shocked, I was touched. I was really happy that he could put aside our differences and that he would chose to live so close to me. Perhaps it was a good taste of home for him every now and then.

While we lived in the same building we rarely spent much time together, both so busy in doing our own thing. Now that I look back on it I really wish we could have done more together. When else will we both be able to live away from the rest of our families, yet so close to one another. Other than that regret, we were able to truly work on our friendship over the 2 years we spent in Mallory Hall.

I have one memory that I'd like to share. One Sunday night my phone rang. It was Nick. He had just returned from a weekend at home. It turns out that he wanted to take a shower...but...he had forgotten his towels at our parents' house. That is probably one of the moments he was most happy to be living a floor above me.

In the past four years Nick has grown into a remarkable young man. He has been ridiculously successful in his professional endeavors as a sports journalist. Some might think that it comes easy to him given all that he has accomplished. Writing does come easy. He has a way with words. However, I've seen him work for everything he has gotten. He is by far one of the hardest working and most diligent person I know. Perhaps not when it comes to cleaning his dorm room, but in just about everything else he gives a consistent 150%.

This week I got a phone call from my mom. She told me to read Nick's last column in The Alligator (a local Gainesville newspaper that Nick has written for while in college). I looked it up online and read it. While reading it I felt my eyes swell with tears. It was Nick's last column in The Alligator, a paper I read every day while in college and grad school. Nick was a staple in the sports section. He went from covering golf and women's basketball to 3 National Championship in 12 months. It was heart-felt and quite touching how he was able to find meaning in some of the hard times he's had and we've had as a family this year. He wrote about faith, timing, friends and the future. The future will be quite bright for Nick. According to his fellow writer's column,

"Nick Zaccardi, you have been the glue that has held the sports department together. Nobody works harder than Nick, and nobody has worked more unselfishly to help make the sports section something to be proud of. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best college sportswriter in the country."

Nick has touched many. From his fellow writers, friends and classmates at UF to his family here and elsewhere. I look forward to all that he will accomplish and most of all, a life of memories with an amazing man, brother and friend.