Mary-Grace Attanasia
Myself Third Spirit of New York 2002 Scholarship Winner
New Dorp High School
Kingsborough Community College
"It is with pleasure that I recommend Mary-Grace Attanasia for your consideration. Mary-Grace is an excellent student and a mature and responsible young person. As Mary-Grace's Advanced English Teacher I can attest to her intellectual curiosity, her pursuit of knowledge, and her ability to delve below the surface of a work of literature. Mary-Grace is willing to read critically and to share her ideas with others. She is truly an outstanding student."
—Harriet Lerche Goldberg, AP English Teacher
Work, Volunteer, and Extra-Curricular Activities
- Student Union
- American Cancer Society
- Staten Island Homeport
Excerpts from Mary-Grace's Essay
Civic responsibility is one's responsibility to help and care for their community and those in it. I became greatly aware of my civic responsibility after the attacks on the World Trade Center. Although I didn't lose a friend or loved one in the tragedy, I felt the need and despair of those around me. I wanted to find a way to help.
The Staten Island Homeport, which hosts Staten Island Fleet week and is run by the Fleet Week Committee, was offering relief to the firemen, policemen and National Guard working at Ground Zero. I went there to see what I could do to help them and my community. I think it was part of my civic responsibility to help those in need because I was capable of doing so.
I started my volunteer work at the homeport on September 15, 2001, just for four days after the tragedy. When I arrived I saw at least one hundred people there, running around doing whatever they could to help.… My first job was sorting clothing that was donated. It was boring work but I did it because it was what I was asked to do. Later they had me behind the medical counter. I was giving out medical supplies and toiletries to the relief workers.…
While I was working some of the firemen were telling me about their experience at ground zero. They told me of the devastation they felt as they cleaned up the rubble of what was once a New York icon. The told me what they had seen and how they were so tired that they didn't even want to eat. But despite their exhaustion they wanted to do more.…
Working with the Staten Island Homeport gave me the experience that influenced my decision in becoming more active with the Staten Island Fleet Week Committee. Through them I will further my work at the homeport during New York's Fleet Week every May by helping out with the sailors that come and stay in New York. My experience has also helped me decide my future career.… I have decided to attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice and later to work for the F.B.I. as an agent. I chose this career so I can do my small part for community and country.
