September 11, 2001. As a junior in high school I never imagined I would see a day that would bring loads of sentiment to anyone and everyone who ever heard the date mentioned even five years after the fact.
I hated Spanish class. I was sitting in the back left of the classroom looking out the window wishing I was out there instead of in this god forsaken classroom. My day dream was interrupted when Mr.Scott's (head of security for the school) panicked voice came over the loud speaker telling everyone "Not to be alarmed" and that there was news and that the teachers should turn on the televisions in the classrooms to be further informed. Mrs. Rosa (my teacher) turned on the T.V. and the world, with the press of the "On" button, completely changed. Teachers who were supposed to be collected were panicked, Mrs.Rosa's husband was a pilot. Security that was supposed to keep order was faced with something they don't train for and were lost themselves. Students, good students, ignored authority and did whatever they could to get to a phone. School was no longer school, it was just a huge mass of people in hectic dismay.
I was in disbelief. What actually just happened? Why was everyone freaking out? After being surrounded by good friends, peers, and teachers crying, questioning, yelling, it hit me that I should be crying, questioning, or yelling, because what I saw on T.V. did really happen and it was time to get to a phone. After waiting what seemed like a lifetime I called my Dad, who travels all the time. No answer. Again, and again,and again no answer. Now I fed into all that was going on around me and panicked. Finally, I got through to my Mom who was somehow collected and let me know my father was fine.
Now five years later I feel guilt about that day more than anything else. While I was sitting in a safe classroom with my friends, daydreaming about being outside, wishing I didn't have to take this class, worrying about trivial things like clothes and boys, right at that time there were petrified people on planes wishing they could be on the ground, that they didn't take that flight, trying to get through to their loved ones to say their last goodbyes.
Its difficult to find meaning in something as tragic as 9/11 and I believe I will pursue that meaning for the rest of my life because people can write as many books as they need and come up with as many quotes they feel necessary but the bottom line is that 9/11 was a different experience for all that lived it and the meaning of that day varies from person to person.
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