September 11, 2001, is a day that will forever be etched in my memory. I had just arrived in the U.S. a few months earlier, in April, trying to find my footing as a young man who had only just begun his journey in life. That day, I was prepping a floor for grout in an apartment building in Florida. Other workers were busy nearby, and suddenly, the radio came on with news that would change the world. At first, I was confused, skeptical even. The idea of a plane flying into a building was something I could only imagine happening in a movie. I didn’t even know what the Twin Towers were. At 19, fresh out of high school in Brazil, my view of the world was still a childish one.
The enormity of what happened didn’t hit me right away—it took time for it to sink in. But what really stood out to me wasn’t just the tragedy itself, but the aftermath. As the dust settled, what emerged was something powerful. America, in the face of unimaginable loss, pulled together in a way that left a deep impression on me. I started to realize what it meant to be part of this country, to see people rally around the values that define America: respect, freedom, and thankfulness.
As an immigrant, I wasn’t just new to America, I was new to adulthood, to contributing as a working member of society. I had just left behind the carefree days of school and entered the real world. The events of that day were my first experience witnessing something that felt far bigger than myself. I wasn’t born here, but as I grew into being part of this country, I began to understand the culture of thankfulness that runs deep here. It’s a lesson I continue to carry with me: that in the face of hardship, we don’t give up. Instead, we come together, we help each other, and we honor the freedoms we have.
I’m not a soldier, not even close, but in a way, I want to compare my role in a much lower-stakes way. Just as a soldier carries the flag forward, I believe we all have a responsibility to carry the values of respect and freedom forward. My way of doing that is by living those values in my daily life and by making sure others understand the importance of never forgetting. September 11 taught me how fragile life is, but also how resilient we can be when we unite.
It’s easy to say “Never Forget” on a day like today, but to me, those words mean more than just remembering the event itself. They mean honoring the values that define this country. The respect we show each other, the freedom we protect, and the sense of duty to live by those principles every day—that’s what “Never Forget” means to me. It’s about carrying the flag of those ideals forward in my own life, as best as I can.
America’s strength comes from its people, from the way we support each other, and from the shared belief that respect and freedom must walk hand in hand. My journey, from a wide-eyed 19-year-old immigrant to where I am now, has been shaped by these lessons. And so, as I continue to grow and contribute, I’ll always strive to uphold those values. Because to me, that’s what it means to truly “Never Forget.”
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