Rows of similar looking houses with vinyl siding exteriors make up the neighborhoods of Staten Island. Immaculate gardens with bright green grass with an American flag displayed in front of each house creates the facade of a picture perfect suburbia within the boundaries of New York City. Life in Staten Island has a routine. The weekends are dedicated to family barbecues at noon or a day at the mall. At first glance life is bucolic and the promise of the American dream realized, but Staten Island has a dark side. Drugs are a big problem among the youth of the island. According to the New York City Department of Health, the borough had the second highest citywide rate of fatal overdoses in 2017. Afflicted by many of the same issues youth in small towns experience, young people often feel trapped in a place too familiar, where all paths are known. This project explores the psychology of coming of age in a confining suburban setting, a simple ferry ride away from Manhattan. As Nick Noto who was born and raised in Staten Island says: “If you don’t leave this place by the age of 25, you’re not going anywhere.”