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>> I was in high school. I'm from the city. So, I was born and raised here in New York
and the day of 9/11, I was--I remember very clearly, I came from the class in school,
we got all diverted to the gym and it was really scary. And that was the biggest thing
that stuck out is how much... As a teenager I felt like I understood a lot about the way
the world works. And what's happening in the country and, you know, we were studying history
and I felt very progressive and yet, and in one instant I can feel like my teachers didn't
know anymore than I did, I didn't no anymore than my friends, that we were all equally
scared. And the city was really, really quiet that day. I'll never forget leaving school
at 61st and Amsterdam; my mom came to pick me up. And we looked up and down both sides
of the street and there was no traffic except for police cars and ambulances. And I felt
really alone that day. But equally looking back now, I can also say that I feel like
I grew up a lot that day as well because I had to really start at least as a young adult,
looking at some things that are not as easy to deal with. And not everyone likes you,
whether they know you or not and there's a price to pay for some of the luxuries we experienced
in this country and there's rebuilding. There's always a time and an opportunity to grow and
to rebuild and I saw the city come together in a way that I've never seen before and I
saw "enemies" coming together in a way I've never seen before. And it made me really,
really proud to be a New Yorker. A year later, I traveled to live in Brazil and I saw the
other side of the Americans that hasn't been so fortunate. And it made me really grateful
that I was fortunate enough to be born here. And also aware of what I could do to give
back and to at least be willing to hear about people who are not as fortunate and also to
learn more about the history that has led to events like 9/11 but also ways that we
can prevent atrocities like this one happening in the future.