Attacks Reaffirmed Loma Linda Academy Graduate's Relationship With God

For Elias Hakimian, his relationship with God was reaffirmed 10 years ago today.

Hakimian, a Class of 1999 graduate from Loma Linda Academy, was working as a financial adviser for Morgan Stanley in the 65th floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I don't remember World War II. And when I hear stories about it, they're interesting, but it doesn't impact you until you actually go through an experience like that," Hakimian said after speaking to students at . "And sometimes it's kind of depressing that we wait that long. And if we're not fortunate then we spend our whole lives and something catastrophic happens, and we don't have a relationship with God, then our life's over."

Hakimian said that people from his office began evacuating the building after the first plane crashed into the north tower. He said they had gotten down to about the 48th floor when they were given an all-clear signal over the loud speaker.

On their way back up, he had reached the 61st floor when the second plane hit the South Tower.

"I got about a block and a half away, and there were bodies landing on the ground around me," he said. "And when I finally was able to get a hold of my mom is when the building came down."

Hakimian is now the owner/operator of Crystal Cove Advisors, a finacial advising business based in Newport Beach. And the memories from the day reaffirm his need to have God in his life every day.

"God had me exactly where I was at and go through that process not only about healing for things from the past, but gave me a huge future and an outlook on life that could only come from God, that's for sure."

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