US Olympian Genai Kerr

I have been blessed with incredible opportunities in this life, all for which I thank my parents.  My mother and father devoted their lives so that I could have every opportunity to succeed as a child – shuttling me from city to city for art camps, magnet schools and sports programs.  Their support helped me reap the benefits of hard work and dedication, including honors as an artist, photographer, 2003 Pan American Games gold medalist and member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic water polo team.

In a word, my parents taught me responsibility – something that would end up saving my life.

In the days immediately before terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, I had taken some vacation time from my first job outside of college as a teacher and water polo coach at Sage Hill School in Newport Coast, California, to visit my friend Omar Amr back in Boston.