story438.xml

story438.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-04-19

I am a junior and a history major at Vanderbilt University and was getting ready to go to my 9:35 history class when I heard about the incident at the World Trade Center. I was going through my usual morning routine when I heard a friend of mine, down the hall, talking very loudly to someone on her telephone while listening to her TV with the volume turned up very loudly. So, I turned on my television and I saw what had happened. At first I was just so overwhelmed by the burning towers that the whole situation did not register with me quite yet. I spent some time watching events unfold but then had to go to class. Once I got there, all anyone could talk about was what had happened. Some people had had earlier classes or had not checked the news before hurrying to class and thus had no idea that this act of terrorism had even happened. The professor said some things, and then started to lecture.

As the day progressed, things began to hit me, and everyone else, harder. Some people cried, others had blank looks on their faces and some, although I do not know how, went about as if nothing had occurred. Many of my classmates said it was when they saw the towers collapse that all of their emotions were let loose. The situation was especially poignant for me since my family is from New York and my parents grew up near the city.

The first day was one of astonishment and disbelief. I do not remember crying on Septemeber 11, but I know I did on the morning of September 12 when I found out that a family member of mine, although distant, had probably been killed in one of the towers.

I do not know how I will look back on this event in the years to come. All I know is that I will never forget it.