Childhood 9/11 witnesses now grapple with lasting trauma and new purpose
Adults who were children during the 2001 attacks describe ongoing anxiety, PTSD and a drive to help others.
Three New York City residents who were ten-year-old students on September 11 recount the panic of white ash, shaking buildings and the loss of contact with their families. Alexandra Minaya, now 35 and living in Brooklyn, works in emergency healthcare and says the memory still haunts her despite no formal diagnosis. Diana Bejasa, a former Stuyvesant High School senior now 42 and based in Hawaii, was diagnosed with complex PTSD and uses her experience to coach others.
Vanessa Collazos, also 35, recalls seeing the towers from a classroom in Maspeth and still battles anxiety and airplane fear. Psychotherapist Lesley Koeppel notes that children exposed to sudden catastrophe often develop long-term anxiety, hyper-vigilance and a need for control. All three have turned their trauma into community service, volunteering for disaster relief or supporting victims.
Why it matters
The story shows how early exposure to terror can shape mental health and career paths decades later.
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