story10174.xml
Title
story10174.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2003-10-27
911DA Story: Story
On September 11, 2001, I was in my classroom at P.S. 191 in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.
As a NYC Teaching Fellow, I only started teaching the day before, and admired my view from the fourth floor; Queens, the Brooklyn Bridge and a view of downtown including the World trade Center towers.
People were entering my room all morning long. At first it was computer technicians, the rest, I didn't know. I thought they were looking at something technical.
With a roomful of kindergartners, I first noticed the smoke across my windows. I thought that this was odd and when I looked out the window, and thought, "My God, the Twin Towers are on fire!" I thought I'd best take a photo since this seemed extraordinary and when I focused my view finder, I saw the South Tower collapse in front of my eyes. I rubbed them and thought the smoke was playing tricks with my eyes.
At 12:30 when I was scheduled for lunch, the librarian asked if I wanted to have lunch in the library with the other teachers. She said, "We have the television set up." I thought the teachers were watching soap operas during lunch so I thought I'd go out of politeness - just this once.
When I saw my first news report, I didn't get it - planes crashing into the WTC? Did the pilot have a heart attack? Why wasn't the plane ditched in the harbor? I was quickly updated on the situation and fortunately was able to contact my family. I didn't know anyone who was lost that day, yet I feel as if I did. I imagine that of the people who were lost, I've passed them on the highway, sat next to one or two on the subway, or perhaps, taught their children
As a NYC Teaching Fellow, I only started teaching the day before, and admired my view from the fourth floor; Queens, the Brooklyn Bridge and a view of downtown including the World trade Center towers.
People were entering my room all morning long. At first it was computer technicians, the rest, I didn't know. I thought they were looking at something technical.
With a roomful of kindergartners, I first noticed the smoke across my windows. I thought that this was odd and when I looked out the window, and thought, "My God, the Twin Towers are on fire!" I thought I'd best take a photo since this seemed extraordinary and when I focused my view finder, I saw the South Tower collapse in front of my eyes. I rubbed them and thought the smoke was playing tricks with my eyes.
At 12:30 when I was scheduled for lunch, the librarian asked if I wanted to have lunch in the library with the other teachers. She said, "We have the television set up." I thought the teachers were watching soap operas during lunch so I thought I'd go out of politeness - just this once.
When I saw my first news report, I didn't get it - planes crashing into the WTC? Did the pilot have a heart attack? Why wasn't the plane ditched in the harbor? I was quickly updated on the situation and fortunately was able to contact my family. I didn't know anyone who was lost that day, yet I feel as if I did. I imagine that of the people who were lost, I've passed them on the highway, sat next to one or two on the subway, or perhaps, taught their children
Collection
Citation
“story10174.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 29, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/18126.