Extraordinary seniors: Maurizio Fabrizi

His bones may be fragile, but Maurizio Fabrizi is leaving high school stronger than ever.

Fabrizi, 18, of Franklin Square, is graduating with an Advanced Regents diploma and the satisfaction of knowing he's no different from anyone else.

He considers himself to be "just another regular kid," so it's hard to believe that Fabrizi, who was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta, an incurable disease that causes brittle bones, was once treated differently because of his disability.

He attended the Henry Viscardi School in Albertson for severely disabled children until the second grade, when educators realized that his intellectual development was on track for his age. He then attended his local elementary school in Stewart Manor, where his family was living at the time.

Fabrizi worked his way through mainstream classes -- excelling in math -- and wove through the hallways at his high school in Franklin Square in a wheelchair.

Bethann Lestrange, his guidance counselor, said he is often seen "giving high-fives to both the faculty and his peers."

In his free time, Fabrizi, who speaks Italian, enjoys playing video games and hanging out with his friends.

His positive attitude toward life makes him a great role model, school officials said.

Fabrizi, however, is modest.

"I'm taking it day by day and just having fun," he said.

HIS PLANS:To attend SUNY Old Westbury to study accounting and business.

AT COLLEGE I'M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO: "I hope to figure out my career path. I'd like to be successful in the business world."

HIGH SCHOOL HIGH POINT:"The friends I've made and the fact that everyone treats me like everyone else."