I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on that day. I was in my high school physics class. We were taking a test and my teacher wouldn't let us turn on the TV until an announcement was made. Keep in mind, school started at 7:20 central time so this didn't happen until mid-way through 1st period. Once this became a big deal, we were all told to go home because they thought NASA was going to be a target for terrorism (we're down the street from NASA).
It bewilders me now that my students were so young when this happened, and since they were little, they didn't really understand it. My seniors were in 2nd grade and my freshmen hadn't even started kindergarten. In school this week, we had a special period dedicated to 9/11 memorial stuff, and it was interesting to hear some of the students' perspectives. It is just not that personal to them, although they seem to understand the big deal that it is. Of course, this is the big thing that happened with my generation, whereas my parents can think of things like JFK's assassination.
I will talk to my daughter, someday, about this day. Although she may not have a personal connection with it, I pray that she understands it.
All I know is...
We will never forget.
 |
| Taken in St. Paul's Chapel near Ground Zero during our trip to NYC. |
7 comments:
I was in my Biology class when all of a sudden another teacher came in to speak to ours. There were some hushed voices, and then they said, "All right, everyone to the library."
They ushered all of us to the library, all of the students in the entire school, and with every TV available they turned to the news channels. They said, "Watch what has happened. This is history before your very eyes."
We sat in silence, stunned, watching what was going on. Some younger students tried to make some jokes, but they clearly didn't understand the severity of what just occurred.
I will never forget where I was or how I felt seeing the footage of planes crashing into our buildings, and the destruction it brought. But I also never felt more patriotic in my life, either. I felt my heart swell with pride as I realized that the United States is MY country, and we had been attacked ruthlessly. I remember thinking, "We are strong and we will overcome this."
I remember this day for many reasons... as we all do.
I'm from Washington DC, and went to high school about a mile from the CIA. We turned on the news in my French class, and I suppose in shock, my first reaction was that we were watching a movie. Moments later students started getting picked up since the CIA was also considered a target at that time. My mom picked me up within half an hour.
The most frightening part of that day was when I found out that - by the incredible chance of luck - my brother was too ill to attend a business meeting at the WTC. He stayed home that day, and his boss didn't make it. It was an incredibly confusing moment. Add that to being Middle Eastern... needless to say it did not make things easy for a while.
I am not really the type to live and keep re-living 9/11. It was a horrific moment in history that I'd like to see the US and the rest of the world bypass and move forward to more positive things. That said, it would still be impossible to forget how I felt, with my family in both NY and DC.
I can't wait to tell my daughter about what had happened on 9/11. Of course it's not a positive thing but in a way it is and has brought people and our country together.
I'm glad that you wrote about how your students have a different prespective than we do because it's very true. Because this happened when a lot of us where high school and college-aged, we remember it so vividly.
It's crazy to realize how young they were. I will someday talk to the boys about it. Daniel was asking questions yesterday as we watched stuff about it.
Oh and please add me as your friend on FB. It will not pull you up when I search!!
I was getting ready for class my sophomore year in college - in a towel. I just stopped and stared at my tv. By the time I made it to class, our teacher didn't now why everyone was late. She didn't even believe what happened.
But you're right, we'll never forget.
My mom is a 7th grade teacher. It is so crazy to me that these kids of hers were only two and three and dont remember the day. It just doesnt seem that long ago!
Post a Comment