Alison Warren has been in front of an audience many times, but her most recent appearance was the most meaningful. The Brookville resident was a guest on the Sally Jesse Raphael talk show discussing the events of Sept. 11 and how they affected her, a representative of the Long Island teen population.

The show, which aired on Sept. 25, allowed Warren to have a one-on-one segment with Raphael and discuss her feelings and anger about the terrorist attacks. Warren kept a journal as Sept. 11 went on and shared some journal entries with the audience. She also went to different places in Jericho and filmed different events and reactions to the Sept. 11 attacks. She interviewed friends and family and even taped a portion of a fireman's funeral and some of her footage aired on the show.

Although not personally or directly affected by the loss of a loved one in the terrorist attacks, Warren had a scare and for about an hour, thought that her father was at the World Trade Center. "Thank God her father was not there, but for a few minutes she got to know what it was like had something happened," said Alison's mother Michelle Warren.

In addition to talking on the show, Warren had the opportunity to show her singing talents and closed the show by singing the national anthem, a song that she has performed in the past at Madison Square Garden and Charlotte Coliseum. "Singing the national anthem was really important for me," said Warren, who is a junior at Jericho High School. "That song is a symbol of everything that we stood for that was at risk when the World Trade Center attack happened. It was nice to sing it for everyone now that it really has meaning. It was much different singing it this time than when I had in the past."

Warren explained that she sees such a difference how people react to the national anthem and to the Pledge of Allegiance at school. "Now, people take it so much more seriously. I notice it at school when we say the Pledge of Allegiance. We never used to stand up at school and now everyone does it," said Warren.

Since the show, 16-year-old Warren has received many awards in recognition of her singing talents. She won the Pathway's Women's Health - A Celebration of the Arts and Humanities singing contest, which was open to teens from 14-18 years old. She was also asked to sing for Governor Pataki, his wife and the Prime Minister of Israel and his wife when they visit New York. Their scheduled trip was delayed due to recent events, but when they arrive, Warren will be their guest.

Warren, who plans to pursue a singing career and study both singing and journalism, did not let the terrorist attacks scare her away from New York City. Her "dream school" is Columbia University and she has no qualms about attending a college in New York City. To contact Alison, e-mail her at Anmwarren@aol.com.