Day Lo
Myself Third Spirit of New York 2004 Scholarship Winner
Edward R. Murrow High School
Kingsborough Community College
"Day is a fine man and a good student. As a student in both Group Discussion and Person to Person (Public Speaking) he has exhibited maturity, diligence and self motivation as well as thoughtfulness, dependability and self-confidence. His presentations are well-researched, logically organized and creatively presented. His relaxed yet confident manner captures his audience and keeps them interested throughout."
—Lauren Polemeni, College Guidance Counselor
Work, Volunteer, and Extra-Curricular Activities
- Volunteer, Lenox Hill Hospital (PCU and CCU)
- Volunteer, "Clean Sweep" (keeping local parks clean)
- Volunteer, Brooklyn Public Library
Excerpts from Day's Essay
I am extremely grateful because I did not lose any family members to 9/11. The aftershocks of 9/11 was what affected my family. My parents are first generation immigrants and they work very hard from morning to night in order to provide for our family. Both my parents were having difficulty finding continuous work. Despite a language barrier, lack of higher education, and small opportunities for employment, they were determined to continue putting food on the table. Their determination to provide for us is the motivation for me to go out and do my best in order to provide for them when I am older. My family is in a better situation than most, and 9/11 made me realize that because I have seen others suffer more than me. I cannot do much but if one person steps out and helps, then imagine what an entire country can do. That is what it means to be an American.
The summer before 9/11, I volunteered my time at Lenox Hill Hospital. I helped out in the Patient Care Unit as well as the Critical Care Unit. The patients in the unit need to see a friendly face so I would have a smile when serving them their food, fixing their beds, or doing anything else to make their stay a little more comfortable. My time at Lenox Hill was an amazing experience. Therefore, the following two summers, I wanted to come back to Lenox Hill Hospital. I volunteered once again for the Patient Care Unit along with doing work for the Security Department. The smiles on those patients' faces is well worth the time I spent at Lenox Hill. After what has happened on 9/11, it was the least I could do to help my fellow citizens.
Currently I spend my Saturdays helping out in my local library. I volunteer for a couple of hours organizing the books and helping visitors find their information. It is something I feel strongly about because this library has been my library since I could read. It is the library that my brother and I have used since childhood.
I guess you could say 9/11 was a turning point for me because it gave me a new perspective. There is nothing better than to give back to the people who really need it. To see people smile and say "thank you" is the ultimate gift. That is what I have learned after 9/11. That is what it means to be American.
