On 9/11, I was a medical student working at a New York City hospital. The attendings were frantic, yelling: “Discharge anyone who can go home—hurry, hurry, hurry—we need space!” We emptied beds and prepared, and then we waited...and waited. But no one came. The death toll was so high. We frantically called friends and loved ones working throughout the city, but it was nearly impossible to reach anyone—cell service was spotty at best with everyone desperately trying to connect. In the days and weeks that followed, my medical school colleagues and I volunteered in every way we could. Some helped at the morgue, others supported rescue and recovery efforts by providing basic services, and some pursued additional training in trauma so we could meet the needs we feared were still to come. Today, we pause to remember that day—the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the courage of the first responders who ran toward danger when the rest of us sought safety. As the first medical director of our program at NYU (after graduating med school, residency), I had the privilege of standing alongside colleagues who embodied resilience, compassion, and sacrifice in those darkest days. They taught me that resilience is not only about strength, but also about optimism—an optimism anchored in reality, guided by a moral compass, altruism, and even a sense of humor that allowed us to carry on. “How can I ever feel safe again, trust again, leave the house again?” were some of the questions that haunted me for many years. But they also became the same questions that opened a pathway to healing—for my patients who were 9/11 survivors, for myself, and for those facing many different kinds of pain and suffering, even when not life-threatening. That lesson has shaped me every day since. It reminds me that even in tragedy, we can choose to hold on to hope, to support one another, and to build a future rooted in kindness and purpose. Today, I honor my colleagues, the first responders, and all whose lives were touched by that day. May we never forget, and may we continue to live with gratitude, courage, and optimism anchored in reality. #optimism #practicaloptimism #911 #neverforget911