story45.xml

story45.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-02-06

I am a teacher with Fairfax County Schools in Springfield, Virginia. I was in the main office of the high school where I teach shortly after the planes hit the World Trade Center I learned about it in the main office. My initial reaction was there HAD to be a major radar problem - I was too naive to even dream of terrorism!

I then headed back to my classroom where I immediately turned on CNN. It was my planning period and I left my door open. Students walking down the hallway would stop in and see the latest developments as they continued to unfold. I felt very nervous and decided to go to another classroom where I could view the news with other adults. On the way down another faculty member was crying and informed me about the Pentagon being hit. That really scared me since this was now in our back yard! Rumors started coming in on the news about other federal buildings in DC being attacked and/or evacuated. Who knew what to believe?

I quickly decided that there was not point in trying to teach the rest of my classes. We watched CNN and the students continued to ask me questions. I told them I was learning the news along with them and even though I would give an opinon from time to time we all just watched in a state of shock. Even though I was a nervous wreck I did my best to remain calm and reassuring for my students. One thing that I must add is that my school has many students whose parents work in the Pentagon. The panic many of them felt was understandable and I was more than willing to let students go to the office and call their parents. Many other teachers in the school pulled out their cell phones and allowed their students to call from their classrooms. Everyone was desperate to know that their family membes were safe.

The principal came on the loud speaker and asked the students to remain close to the building and not go outside for lunch as some students usually did in nice weather. As far as I know the students complied with his request and understood the reason they needed to remain inside the building. Many parents came and picked up their children so they could be home together. I did not have any that fell into that category but I think I was in the minority. I am happy to say that none of my students lost a relative or close family friend from this but many of them were effected in strange ways. One of my students has a brother who had worked at the World Trade Center in an internship program while in a business program at New York University. With the destruction of the building and his job his graduating on time was in jeopardy. Things were resolved eventually but this incident could have kept him in school at least another semester if not more. Compared to the other tragedies others had to face this was nothing but it was still something I had not considered. I also E mailed a friend in Toronto who wrote me back and said she had been worried sick about me and was so happy to hear from me and know I was OK. The phone lines were all tied up so this was a life line for me and many others to let our friends know we were safe.

Sepember 11th is by far the most monumental date in my life. Up until that date I thought nothing would ever eclipse November 22, 1963. I had grown up in Dallas and remember the assassination of President Kennedy vividly. That is still an event I will never forget but I KNOW my life changed on September 11th and I have looked at things very differently since that day. I have let people who have touched my life know how much they mean to me and I am not afraid to hug someone and tell them they are special in my life. People are more responsive to being open with their feelings and don't seem to mind my sharing my feelings with them.

I must admit I worry about my safety and have tried to appreciate every moment of every day since I have no idea what the next day will bring. September 11, 2001 changed my life and I will never be the same person as a result of that day.