A story following an inner-city college student from a middle class working family in Brooklyn, through his journey to manhood. The book follows Peter Sassi through the trials and tribulations of all four years of his college experience. He is a computer science major at an engineering school. It explores romantic encounters and deep dividing family issues facing a young adult, as well as the peaks and valleys of adventures brought by his new found freedom. It delves into the importance of friendship and companionship and the dark side of emotions as Peter struggles through depression, anxiety and loss. Peter Sassi is not your typical college student and as a student at a commuter school, he did not have the typical college experience. Polytechnic University, located in Downtown Brooklyn, may not have the typical campus most would imagine, but Peter discovers that "his" campus stretches beyond the school's property and encompasses the entire city of New York. This allows Peter to obtain an internship for a large Wall Street Bank as a programmer, and it is the opportunity that the City can provide that keeps Peter going. College brings Peter independence, which gives him both happiness and hardship. As an only child, raised by a single mother, living in the comfort of his grandparent's home, Peter is raised as a typical Italian-American boy. As he ventures out to college, a new marriage changes the dynamics of his family which forces Peter to move out on his own and support himself as he struggles to maintain his sanity and continue pursuing his dreams. A big personal loss pushes Peter over the edge to an abyss full of sadness and prescription drugs, causing him to temporarily lose his grip on his hopes and dreams. With the help of his friends and loved-ones, Peter finds the strength to endure his personal demons and fight for the life he always wanted. His unique college experience leads Peter to a new sense of reality and hope, as he enters the "real world".
About the Author: Robert C. Ilardi was born in Brooklyn, New York and lived the first two decades of his life in an area widely-known and referred to as Bensonhurst. He was raised by a working single mother in a loving and tradition-filled household of his grandparents, surrounded by his loud and colorful extended Italian-American family. His experiences of living in the inner city through his mid-20s, the richness of the "Brooklyn Italian" culture, and his encounters with the diverse characters while growing up, inspired him to share a glimpse of the life in the inner city. He graduated from Polytechnic University and has worked in Wall Street for the past decade, working his way up to Applications Development Group Manager and Applications Architect. He currently lives in the suburbs of New Jersey with his wife and his dog, Lily. "Source of Endurance" is his first novel.