"Who Is She?" The Top 5 Things No One Knows About Your Blogger, Stephanie!
- Stephanie Dal Porto
- Sep 15, 2020
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 15, 2020
Ever wonder who the blogger is behind the screen? Trust me... I do, too. That's why I've made an easy-to-read and to-the-point fact sheet, of sorts, all about me.
Search my page on any social media platform. Go on, I dare you. There's only one way to find out about who I am, the things I value, the things I've accomplished throughout myself - it's to continue and read on.
Fact #1: I'm Polish
That's right. You read that correctly. And despite the look of my last name, which screams from the coasts of Italy, I'm Polish (with a hint of Italian, of course).
I grew up speaking Polish and embracing the Polish culture since I was born. Growing up with an Italian last name, people didn't always associate me as "The Polish Girl" but trust me, I can say more than just "kurwa" (for all of you with Polish friends, I'm sure you know what this means) - I can speak, cook, and tell you about all things Polish.
Memories of Polish food and Saturday Polish School were a reality for me - I didn't know a difference... This was my norm. There's something about growing up with a culture that separates those who actively engage with it as adults and those who idling let the culture slide by as the years go by - it's engagement.
As a child, as much as Polish Saturday School was a reality, the school was something I dreaded every single weekend. Take a second and place yourself in my shoes - the shoes of an 8-year-old who had to be at an extra culture school at 8 am on every Saturday during the school year. Sucks, right? In short, yes, it did.
But there came a point in my life, my Polish School life when I began to develop friendships, an appreciation for culture, cuisine, and literature - something more than an abstract idea of culture. My journey began at Loyola University Chicago.
I began to immerse myself in Polish Studies courses at the university, taking courses like Polish and Irish Literature, Post-War Polish Film, and specially focused topics like the European Union.
These courses reminded me of how to preserve and appreciate the culture I, at times, felt forced to learn and know - still keeping me up-to-date with all things Polish.
Now, I embrace culture so much that I work as an assistant to the Polish Studies Program Director and am Vice-President of Programming of Loyola University Chicago's Polish Student Alliance.
Fact #2: I Have a Black Belt in Karate
Let me guess, the first things that popped into your head were either a) the movie The Karate Kid or b) ninjas.
If neither one of those two popped into your head, congratulations! You have beaten the stereotype of what it means to be a first-degree black belt in Karate.
Let's get one thing straight. Karate is not just something about kicking, punching - it's about self-disciple, self-respect, and self-defense. It is one of the few sports that truly draws attention to the self while simultaneously developing a relationship with others externally.
From the ages of 7-12, I could always be found at Karate practice - working on my front kicks, my jump-front kicks, and knife hand positions. It was a craft, and I was sure of one thing - I had to master it.
To master a skill in 3 years, some may say, is something that can never be accomplished, especially in such a short amount of time. But sometimes, when speaking about mastering, I can be understood an internal development - a connection - with yourself and how to treat others.
That's exactly what Karate lessons taught me - how to care for self and others. They stressed that to better understand yourself, you must understand your environment and those who are present in it.
Of course, at the time, as a 12-year-old, I wasn't thinking such profound and analytical thoughts however, throughout those 3 years practicing Karate, I was able to translate the skills and life lessons learned there into my everyday life in the long-run -- school, at-home life, friends, and work.
Receiving, rather earning, a black-belt in Karate, is a skill that, I believe, no matter at what age, can fortify the respect and disciple we wish to see within ourselves and given to others.
Fact #3: I Have a Passion for Classic Rock
Have me listen to any Led Zeppelin song and I bet you, I'll know it.
During my high school years, I went through phases in music - as most high school teens do. My journey, which ranged from classical music to classic rock, was one of the most eye-opening experiences I could have gone through in life.
I grew an appreciation for all things classic, psychedelic, and metal rock. From Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd to Fleetwood Mac, I was living in the moment - like it was the '70s!
My fascination stemmed from a) my dad's side of the family and b) from bands like Green Day. As a child, I grew up listening to all the classics whenever we went for family events/holidays on my dad's side of the family. I learned to appreciate the American music culture of the '60s, '70s, and some of the '80s.
There was no musical "culture shock". I knew all of the lyrics, all the beats, and even made playlists to listen to during high-school study hall, passing periods, and during lunch - shaping me into an embodiment of all the stereotypes we think of when someone mentions classic rock.
The passion didn't stop there. After watching so many videos of musicians - specifically guitarists - like Jimmy Page and David Gilmour, I knew I had to pick a guitar up. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was taking guitar lessons from a family friend and then progressing to a lesson studio in my hometown area called School of Rock.
The more and more I practiced, the more opportunities I grabbed a hold of. During my time at School of Rock, I had the chance to play at a well-known, yet smaller Chicago venue - Subterranean - where I played guitar on Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall" - an experience to last a lifetime.
Even though it's been almost 3 years since graduating from high school, I still carry on the respect, appreciation, and understanding of the classic rock from the past and the openly understanding and adapting the variations of rock in today's world.
Fact #4: I play the Alto and Baritone Saxophones
Yup. That's me standing in my high school marching band uniform, ready to go.
I'm exposing all of my secret and fun facts today.
Lucky you!
My passion for music didn’t just stop at guitars. Remember, I also mentioned I had a classical music phase… Which brings me to my next fact. Thankfully, I still remember the general idea of how to play the Alto and Bari Saxophones.
My high school life went from an 8 am morning filled with classic rock to an 11 am classical band class back to a 3 pm classic rock to a 5 pm Alto Sax practice session for four years.
Simply put, I was the band nerd. And no, while I didn’t know how to play perfectly, I did have the marching band spirit that set me apart to become a drill captain (leading the Saxophone section during the marching band season).
3 of the 4 years in high school were spent early in the mornings playing and improvising Jazz. Every single day I was at school starting at 7 am… To play Jazz on my Bari Sax (yes, you're seeing things correctly, it's that massive saxophone to your right). To sum it up in 4 words: It was a commitment.
But, like anything in life that takes time, commitment, and practice, it usually ends up benefiting oneself in the end. I know it did for me.
Every Christmas, I pick up my Alto Sax and play for the Christmas Masses for one night and one night only - a concert of sorts.
The biggest takeaway of my more musical years was the dedication it takes one to progress and improve.
Fact #5: I LOVE Coffee and Tea
If there's one thing you should take away from this whole blog post, it's that I love coffee and tea.
My passion for tea truly began when I was a baby. My Polish mother would give me 4 options to choose from: water, juice, milk, or tea. From black tea to fruit-flavored tea, I drank it all.
The older I got, the more and more I chose to drink and explore tea on my own. I frequented the local Polish delis, searching for a new flavor to try.
I didn't consider many things when first diving into the coffee world. There's flavors or coffee - not only just talking about vanilla or chocolate-flavored coffee - but the flavor profile of the coffee roast. Was it bitter? Was it sweeter? Was it light? Heavy? Fruity?.
I didn't take many things into consideration when first diving into the coffee world. There are endless amounts of flavors of coffee - not only just talking about vanilla or chocolate-flavored coffee - but the flavor profile of the coffee roast. Was it bitter? Was it sweeter? Was it light? Heavy? Full? Fruity?
But then I found out about cold brew, a pleasant surprise. Who knew coffee could have such a full, smooth, and non-bitter flavor? Not me until I was about 19.
My life through coffee and tea continues to grow each and every day. While I do drink coffee for that boost of energy, I also have learned to consider every sip of that coffee - giving it the attention and detail that it deserves to be recognized for.
Next time you grab a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, analyze it. Take the time to understand what it is your drinking, why you're drinking it, and search for variations of what you're drinking. Look for new coffee shops, cafes, or even chain brands to try.
Coffee shops all over the U.S. bring something new to the table. For instance, the first time I ever had a Honey-Lavender Coffee was at a local coffee shop in Columbus, IN called Lucabe Coffee Co.
The fun does not stop there! Chicago, a more well-known city, has a plethora of cafes to choose from. Take Printer's Row Coffee Co. located in Lincoln Park, Chicago, an example of the many in the area. They offer in-house roasted coffee and variations of teas. My personal favorite coffee is the seasonal Cardamom and Clove Latte with Macadamia Milk. But also be sure to try their London Fog - an English Breakfast Tea with 2% Milk and a hint of vanilla.
Enough about me! I'd love to hear all about you. Drop a comment below and tell me more about yourself.
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