Tesia Williams (TW) and Mikayla Stephens (MS)

TW: My parents didn’t come from a lot. My grandmother had a high school education. But given the Jim Crow laws, there were only a few jobs that were available to her.

And so I had my sights set on, you know, rising in my career.

And then September 11th came around, I was 23 and the rug was swept out from under me.

MS: What did you witness that day?

TW: I remember the plane hit in between corridors four and five. And I was in corridor six.

There was just so much confusion as to what was happening. I thought a bomb had hit the Pentagon.

After I left the building, I remember standing there, frozen. All I wanted was to call my parents. 

Others were running back into the building to rescue people. But I didn’t think about running back in. 

And I was ashamed for a long time. I carried this weight of not doing more when I had the opportunity to do so. 

MS: I didn’t know that you went through so much.

TW: But did you know that the events of that day inspired me to adopt you and your sister? 

MS: No, I didn’t- I didn’t know.

TW: Yeah, so, six years after 9/11, I got the devastating news that your mom passed away after giving birth to your sister.

And I thought, now’s my time. I have to step in.

MS: I’m in shock, I… never knew that 9/11 could motivate you to do something like that. 

TW: Yeah… But you were just such a wonderful blessing. And I am so thankful to have you in my life. 

And you know, if I had an opportunity to talk to my younger self now, I would tell her that falling – That’s inevitable. Focus on what you’re going to do to get back up and help others get up as well.