What Defines Me

When thinking of what defines me a few people, places, and objects come to mind. However, when trying to write about what defines me, I only feel super passionate about one thing. A place. This place is a second home, the thing I’m most proud to own, and one of my favorite places to be. Luna Pizza Restaurant is set in between two train tracks in the heart of a small town by the name of Three Bridges, NJ. It was opened up six years ago by my family, The Catena Family. With three girls by the ages of eleven, thirteen, and sixteen, we now had a full working staff. For a year, my parents, older sisters, and I tiled floors, painted ceilings, and tested out a million delicious recipes; we had no idea what we were doing. On May 6th 2008, we opened the doors and started the craziest chapter of our lives. That year took off and we won a number of awards including “Best Pizza in Hunterdon County” and “Cutest Restaurant,” which without a doubt we were. Friday nights turned chaotic with a line out of the door and the phone ringing off the hook. Six years later, we still have our regular customers who come in and sit at “their” table and not say a word because they know their order is memorized by heart. My parents will take time to sit with the customers and not only ask how the food is but tell them our story of how we came to be. My family has come a long way and has learned things that are only to be learned through an experience like the one we’ve had. At only twelve years old I had the responsibilities of someone twice my age. I developed skills that will stay with me for a lifetime. Now at the age of seventeen I run an instagram page for the restaurant, do the food shopping, and often times even open up the place by myself when my parents are running late. Without Luna Restaurant, my Friday and Saturday nights would be like a normal teenagers’. However, I also would not be the person I am today. I have gained so much confidence in talking to people I do not know and having conversations with adults. I learned how important it is to make connections and have been introduced into the business world without even knowing. My parents have given me an incredible taste of the business world which is how I have chosen my major. Most importantly, I have spent the past six years and will spend the rest of my life traveling and criticizing pizza without even meaning to. Luna has shaped me into a new person and has tied me closer to my family than ever. I could not be more proud to be defined by such an amazing place that was created solely by the most important people to me.