      Most of us were elementary or junior high kids, innocent and naive about the world we lived in. Our parents packed our lunches, we rode the bus to school, and everything was normal for us on before 8:46 am on September 11, 2001. It is one of those days that we all can remember exactly what we were doing. The teachers at school were restless, but we were still mostly clueless. We saw the images on the TV screen when we got home, but didn’t exactly know what they meant. Our parents explained to us that bad people had taken planes and crashed them into buildings, and many, many people had died.
           That was ten years ago. Today, we are college students, and we have a better grasp on the world we live in. We look back and understand the suffering and terror that happened that day. We now know that terrorists hijacked planes and purposely flew them into the twin towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, in hopes of killing as many Americans as they could and bring our country down. We now understand that we witnessed one of the deadliest days in U.S. history, and our country hasn’t been the same since.
           Like many others, I have struggled with understanding the events that happened that day. I simply can’t get my mind around the death and destruction that was caused, and how many people lost someone they loved. I struggle with wondering about the thoughts of the people trapped in the towers, or the people on the hijacked planes, surely knowing that death was coming. Or the thoughts of the people who chose to jump from the twin towers: how could anyone force themselves to jump 100 stories? What about the firefighters who watched helplessly as the towers holding their fellow men fell to the ground? I see the pictures of the giant fireballs roaring from the towers and wonder what the brave firefighters inside were thinking. Getting older has not only led me to understand the destruction I’ve lived through, but has sparked my interest and curiosity about that fateful day.  I recently watched National Geographic’s documentary series on September 11, which has explored everything from what President Bush went through that day, the unheard recordings and images from the victims, to how Al-Qaida planned September 11 and how America is rebuilding. One particular moment with resonate with me forever: a 911 recording was played of a female firefighter trapped in the rubble right after one of the towers collapsed. She was crying, but through her muffled sobs she was saying, “help me, help me.” They never found her.
            As a fifth grader, I wasn’t capable of fully grasping the magnitude of devastation. It has taken me 10 years, but now I am coming to terms with what I lived through. I saw almost 3,000 people die that day. It will always be a part of me, and every one of us. We are a generation of young women who have lived to see one of the most horrific days in American history, and although we were young, we are now able to look back and acknowledge the stories of the people who died and the loved ones they left behind. I encourage you to read about that day, listen to the stories of the victims and survivors, and become passionate about keeping the memory of those who perished alive. Like me, you may think you understand what happened, but take a closer look now that it is 10 years later. You’ll be surprised at how much meaning September 11, 2001 will carry.
For a collection of stories and information on September 11
For information on the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero
For a guide of television programming featuring specials on 9/11