story7773.xml

story7773.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-17

In the early morning hours before the September 11 attacks occurred , I didn't feel like it was an ordinary day. I was extremely tired and a little depressed and I didn't know why. I got up at 6:00 AM and left the house by 6:15 AM to get a parking space near my school. As I sat there waiting for the clock to turn 7:10 AM, I began looking out the window and noticing the little things. Of how the sun rose to the west of where I was parked and how its rays would make the cold morning warm. I also noticed that my mood was already in low spirits and I thought about how I wished I didn't have to go to school that day. When it came time to leave for class, I didn't look back at my car like I usually did. "Today," I thought, "is going to be a long day."
I was in my fourth period class (we have block scheduling) watching "Ferris Bueller's Day Out" when all of a sudden our principal comes on the intercom and announces that one of the World Trade Center Towers was hit by an airplane. I turned to my friend Paula and gave her a surprised look. But I wasn't all that concerned because I just thought that it was your everyday accident, although a bit unsual. My teacher made a joke to lighten the moment and I remembered us all chuckling nervoulsly. Then the bell rang, it was time for my fifth period class, AP English. As, I was walking down the hall I just kept thinking, "It's just an ordinary day...just an ordiary day."
I arrived into class wanting to know more about what happened...we all did. So, my teacher turns on the news and it was the first time I found out that the Pentagon had been hit also. "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" I thought. It was a huge shock because it was so close to home. It was at this time, I understood the seriousness of what had occurred. The reporters were saying it was a terrorist attack... a terrorist attack on America. And as I sat there hopeless, angry, wanting to do SOMETHING...ANYTHING, I saw flashes of images of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. People running here and there frantically, screaming, yelling, and the worst sight of all people jumping from the towers to their quick death. As all of America tuned in, we began to realize that we were all victims. That the attacks happened to all of us AMERICANS It was a moment in my life where I finally realized how I wished it had been an ordinary day. But we all know that it was wasn't.
I came home and rushed to call my mom and sister. Were they okay? I just wanted to tell them I loved them. Ane then a few minutes later, my father called from California. A couple weeks before we had gotten into a fight, but you know, it just didn't matter anymore. I was glad that we were talking...that we had a chance to set everything right. I know that some people will never get the chance to do that.
After the attacks, I have days where I reflect about the meaning of this country. And what a country she is. The question is, are we still going to take this country for granted after we were violated? I now know I never will.
GOD BLESS AMERICA...MY HOME SWEET HOME.