When the Twin Towers fell 25 years ago in New York, nothing would ever be the same again. Millions of people were affected, with relatives, family, and friends who were lost to us, leaving holes in lives that could never be filled. Yet for millions of others, including the thousands of us who made it out alive, a strange paradox was born: That day full of horror would also become a catalyst for purpose and the beginning of new endeavors in a different world.

Sept. 11, 2001, started off as a beautiful morning. I arrived at work early, taking my place at my desk on the 81st floor of the North Tower before the hectic workday began, and sent an email to a friend of mine explaining how life was going well since arriving in America from India. I told him that I was still searching for a purpose beyond my work, and asked him to pray for me.