TRANSCRIPTIE 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:04.559
When you feel like life has dealt you a hand of unfair cards.
00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.040
Instead of voting, you double down.
00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:08.800
You stuck in the game.
00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:10.400
You face battles.
00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:11.919
You felt broken.
00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:14.400
But hey, do us a favor.
00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:16.480
Put your hand on your heart.
00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:18.000
You feel that.
00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:20.320
You're still here.
00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:26.000
Welcome to the Resilience Files Unlock, where survival meets transformation.
00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:36.560
Welcome to the Resilience Files Podcast, where we share real stories of courage, healing, and the power of the human spirit.
00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:41.359
Sometimes the strongest lessons about resilience come from the youngest voices.
00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:45.520
Today's story is a part of our Teen Spotlight series.
00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:47.280
Now, he's not exactly a teen.
00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:51.920
He's a little younger than that, but we are so excited to hear his story.
00:00:52.159 --> 00:01:02.399
I'm your host, Carrie Bernanz, and this podcast is dedicated to sharing real stories of adversity, courage, and the strength people take, even in the hardest parts and moments of their lives.
00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:08.719
Each episode reminds us that resilience isn't about avoiding challenges, it's about learning how to grow through them.
00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:11.280
I am so excited about our young guest today.
00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:23.519
Our young guest's name is Nitai, an 11-year-old from Long Island, New York, what started as a fun jet skiing trip with his dad quickly turned into a frightening moment in an open ocean.
00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:29.840
From his experience, something powerful about courage, faith, and staying calm happened.
00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.560
Now, I don't want to tell the entire story.
00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:34.159
We have him here.
00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:37.760
Before we begin, I want to dive into the story.
00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:42.400
So, Nita, please take us away with your essay.
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:44.719
Hi, my name is Nitashirone.
00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:46.000
I'm 11 years old.
00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.920
I live in Long Island, New York.
00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:52.400
This story happened when I was younger, and I always loved going jet skiing as a kid.
00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:56.319
I didn't really think about danger or how fast things things could change.
00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:01.760
I just knew I was excited to be out in the water with my dad, jet skiing, laughing and enjoying the day.
00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.640
Then everything changed in just a few seconds.
00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:11.520
My dad and I fell off the jet ski because when we got on the jet ski, my dad kept tilting to the right.
00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:14.159
He didn't think much of it, and we started riding.
00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:17.919
And at some point it started raining so hard we couldn't see.
00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:19.840
And we went past the line.
00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:22.319
The worker told us not to go past.
00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:27.039
My dad threw himself off the jet ski and me because it was about to fall on us.
00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:29.280
And it started floating away from us.
00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:32.080
I swam as hard as I could and reached it.
00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:33.280
My dad didn't.
00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:36.400
He was drifting farther and farther away in the sea.
00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.199
From where we were, we couldn't even see the horizon anymore.
00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:41.120
Felt like the ocean was endless.
00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:44.879
We were both screaming for help, but no one could hear us.
00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:46.080
I was terrified.
00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:47.840
My heart was racing.
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:49.599
And I didn't know what was gonna happen next.
00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:51.599
I had never been that scared in my life.
00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:57.840
I remember thinking that this was not how the day was supposed to go, and I felt helpless watching my dad drift away.
00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:00.960
In that moment I did the only thing I could think of.
00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:01.919
I prayed.
00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:05.919
I asked God to help us, I asked him to keep my dad safe.
00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.439
I tried to stay calm even though I was scared inside.
00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:13.439
I kept screaming and looking around, hoping someone would see us.
00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:18.159
After it felt like forever, a fishing boat noticed us and came toward us.
00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:21.199
When that saved us, I felt a huge wave of relief.
00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:24.560
We were alive, we were safe, we had been given another chance.
00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:26.000
That day saved me.
00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:33.120
After that experience changed, I became more mature and more aware of how fragile life can be.
00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:38.000
I started appreciating my family more and stopped and stopped taking moments for granted.
00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:42.240
I realized that life could change in an instant and that being grateful matters.
00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:51.680
I also learned that even when things feel completely out of control, staying calm, having faith, and not giving up can make a difference.
00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.680
I understand now that fear doesn't mean weakness, it means you care.
00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:59.840
And courage is continuing even when you're afraid.
00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:04.080
Today I am a student who tries to be thankful, respectful, and positive.
00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.280
I think more about my actions and how lucky am I to be here.
00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:11.520
That experience helped shape who I am becoming.
00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:16.000
I want to share my story because
Load full transcript
I believe other kids and families can learn from it.
00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:20.959
I want people to know that scary moments don't have to define you in a bad way.
00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:28.240
They can help you grow and if my story helps even one person feel hope, faith, or strength, then it matters.
00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:30.800
I throughout something scary and made me stronger.
00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:36.959
I'm grateful for life for my family and for the chance for the chance to share my story so others don't feel alone.
00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:38.160
Wow.
00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.360
It's hi.
00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:41.920
That is so beautiful.
00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:43.439
It made me so emotional.
00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:50.319
Well let's go back for a moment to the day before that happened when you and your dad was jet skiing.
00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:54.560
Can you tell us about the day was like before everything started to change?
00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:58.639
Yeah, I'm pretty sure we were like really happy when we got to the hotel.
00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:13.439
Because like the first day that we went, and we're in the pool, we're having fun, we're laughing, me and my dad were at the beach, and then at night we were all planning to go jet skiing, and then we just went and yeah.
00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:14.959
Nice, I love that.
00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.040
So you guys are really happy.
00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:18.480
That's wonderful.
00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:20.000
Okay, so let's say so.
00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:21.519
You got there to the jet skis.
00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:24.399
Obviously, you guys didn't know it was gonna rain at all.
00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:29.040
You didn't know anything that was like you just thought you were gonna have just a fun day, right?
00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:30.720
When you were going outdoors.
00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:33.120
And suddenly things started to feel changed.
00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:36.000
Walk us through that moment when you realized something wasn't right.
00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:43.759
When me when my dad started drifting off, because when he pushed me off that he was like doing it as a joke.
00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:48.720
And then when he when he was drifting off, I knew I couldn't like drive it.
00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:55.839
He's trying to warn me to like take my mom's hat and like unlock the jet ski so I could start driving to him.
00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:03.519
But I couldn't hear him because he was too far, and the towel was like he had a towel on his neck because it was sunburns, and it was like choking him.
00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:04.480
Wow.
00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:10.560
When you initially thought it was a joke, then you realized it was something more than that.
00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.600
What was your what was the next thing that was going through your mind?
00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:16.399
I was like, like, we're gonna die.
00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:19.439
Like I didn't think God would like save us.
00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:23.839
You were going through the mind that you thought you were gonna die and that was it.
00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:24.399
Yeah.
00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:29.120
That sounds like a really intense moment, especially for someone that's not years old.
00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:33.519
You shared in your essay that you decided to pray during that moment in that time.
00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:36.480
Can you tell us like what made you turn to prayer in that moment?
00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:39.199
Because I knew there's nothing to do.
00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.800
Like I couldn't do anything, I couldn't swim to him.
00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:46.480
I was trying to move the jet ski to him, like somehow.
00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:50.319
But I couldn't do anything, so I just started praying.
00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:55.439
And then I we saw a fishboat coming to us and they just saved us.
00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:00.879
Wow, so in that moment something incredible happened and the fishboat popped up out of nowhere.
00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.920
Did you see the fish boat at all prior to that moment?
00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:05.839
Nah, not really.
00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:06.480
No.
00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:09.759
It just came out and then we started screaming.
00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:14.240
And how long did you feel like you were in the water before you saw the fishboat?
00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:16.480
Like 20 minutes.
00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.240
Oh wow, 20 minutes.
00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:19.439
That's a wow.
00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:23.199
What was the like the moment you realized that somebody was coming to help?
00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:26.480
You said you started screaming, and then what happened?
00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:32.240
I started crying out of like joy because they picked on my dad and then we started driving back.
00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:34.399
Wow, that's beautiful.
00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.839
Experiences like that can really change your life and the way we see life.
00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:45.360
You mentioned that after that you started appreciating your family more and you started appreciating things and that you even the way that you looked at fear changed.
00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:51.680
Can you tell us how does that how did that experience change everything for you?
00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:56.560
Like I I was with my dad more and I was with my family more a lot.
00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:09.600
And I used to like go with them like places on like Friday or like other days, and we used to spend more time used to boot them, and we used to watch movies more often stuff.
00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:11.040
Oh wow.
00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:12.160
Yeah, that's beautiful.
00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:15.439
I think like you said, you realize how fragile life was.
00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:28.879
And that's something scary yet revealing at a young age, and you're right, frag life can be very fragile, and we don't know how long we have on this earth because you know, death is
inevitable, unfortunately.
00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:30.879
But I am happy that you are here with us.
00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:34.720
I'm happy your dad is here with us, and I think that's a powerful realization.
00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:39.919
I think sometimes the hardest and scariest moments can end up teaching us the biggest lessons.
00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.159
Like looking back right now, what do you think?
00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:45.519
What do you think that experience taught you about courage?
00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:49.519
That like God will like always save us and like don't be like afraid.
00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:50.320
Yeah.
00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:51.919
That's beautiful.
00:08:52.159 --> 00:09:02.639
Yeah, I think a lot of kids and even adults can learn something and even your belief in God and trusting that God will save you no matter what.
00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:03.759
Yeah.
00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:09.200
If another kid finds himself in a scary situation like this, what advice would you give them?
00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:18.000
Uh, if I would like try my best to do anything, if that doesn't work, I would pray to God or something or something.
00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:25.039
Like I'll tell them to pray or to try anything, even scream for help.
00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:26.720
Yeah, absolutely.
00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:33.440
So having faith and believing and praying and screaming and just doing something, then not to do anything at all.
00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:34.480
Yeah.
00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:35.360
Yeah.
00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:42.320
That's really wise advice, and it shows how much you've really grown from that experience, and it takes a lot of courage to talk about moments like this.
00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:58.399
Before we wrap up today's episode, I want to hear like, now that you are 11, is there any challenges that you feel that people at 11 are going through that you feel like you've learned from that you can give advice to?
00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:00.639
A lot of stuff is going on right now in the world.
00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:14.879
And that there's like scary moments that happen for a lot of young people, you know, and people are wondering like, how do they continue to progress forward or how do they not have fear about the unknown?
00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:20.320
If any young person is listening to this episode and they're wondering, how do you build courage?
00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:21.360
What would you tell them?
00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:22.080
I don't know.
00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:31.919
It's like sometimes when you're really scared and then you become like brave all of a sudden like your adrenaline just kicks in and like you know what to do.
00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.440
Like your instincts.
00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:35.840
So would you tell them to trust their instincts?
00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:37.120
Yeah, like all the time.
00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:37.919
All the time.
00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:38.559
Okay.
00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:40.320
That sounds good.
00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:44.240
Is there any specific ways that you practice courage?
00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:46.720
Yeah.
00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:54.799
When I'm scared of something, I just and everyone's telling me to do it, or even if they're not, I just do it.
00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:58.399
Cause like you know it's gonna happen, you know what's gonna happen next.
00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:03.039
You know if you fall, if you something happens, just go for it.
00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:03.679
Yeah.
00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:07.440
Well, let's say we practice good courage on the resilience battle.
00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:10.559
So if people are telling you to do something that's dangerous, don't do it.
00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:11.200
Don't do it.
00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:12.240
No, no, no, no.
00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:22.799
But if they're if it's practicing good courage would be like taking the chance of doing something even when you're afraid, if you know it could help you grow.
00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:35.360
Raising your hand in the classroom, like if you're feeling shy and scared and you're like, you know what, today I'm gonna just raise my hand even if I don't know the answer, and I would be okay with getting it wrong and trying, then not trying at all, right?
00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.240
Yeah.
00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:37.600
Yeah.
00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:45.679
Or the courage to try something new in a sport or trying something new with painting or art or whatever that looks like for you.
00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:52.159
If you could go back and talk to your nine-year-old self in that moment, what would you tell him?
00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:55.360
Like before it happened or after?
00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.200
Or while it happened?
00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.480
Well, I'll tell him like, don't be afraid.
00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:04.240
Like, God will help you, and everything will be like alright.
00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.759
That's beautiful.
00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.440
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.879
I really appreciate it.
00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:12.399
I think it's so beautiful.
00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:17.919
Is there anything else that you would like to leave people on today's episode?
00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.240
Any young people listening?
00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:22.240
Always believe in yourself.
00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.039
Always believe in yourself.
00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:28.000
Straight from the mouth of the beautiful child.
00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:28.480
Okay.
00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:30.000
Thank you so much.
00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:31.600
You have such a beautiful smile.
00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:37.840
So much success and continued, continued courage and success in sharing your story.
00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:42.159
I think it's gonna encourage other people to also have courage and to believe in themselves.
00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.759
Thank you so much.
00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:45.679
Do you have any questions for me?
00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:49.039
Has anything ever happened to you?
00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.759
Yeah, it's a good question.
00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:54.240
Yeah, I I a lot of things happen to me.
00:12:54.320 --> 00:13:06.399
I'm grown, but I would say um I got hit by a car in 2024, January 1st, 2024, by a trunk driver in New York City, and that changed my life forever.
00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:18.159
I had over 13 fracture bones in my face and injured hip and left foot, surgeries and procedures and stuff the last couple years, and it definitely changed my life.
00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:28.639
And I went through a dark season of life, but I also had a lot of courage and faith that I would push through and um know that I also believe in God.
00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:33.440
I also believe that God had something bigger and better for me and that he saved my life for a reason.
00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:52.399
So I think to know that even in that moment, I still believed and trusted God, and even in the moments of being in the hospital in the trauma unit, you know, that God still existed despite it being a tough situation and a scary situation at that.
00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:56.320
But um coming back much better, stronger than ever.
00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:58.240
So thank you for asking.
00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:00.000
Yeah.
00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:02.399
Well, do you have any other questions?
00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.519
No, no problem.
00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:08.080
We appreciate you so much for sharing your story.