nmah6199.xml

nmah6199.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-09-11

For a Western Illinois high school student, September 11 2001, was just another ordinary day. The sun was shining..perfect weather. I reported to my first hour computer class. Just another usual typing assignment..the sun glaring in on my computer screen. Just as we began, my teacher walked out of the room. It was nothing unusual. But when she came back, the world around me changed, for now at least, if not forever. My class was told that "something" had happened to the Pentagon and World Trade Centers and that we where allowed to report to the library to see the events unfold. As I walked into the library, a large group of teachers and students had formed. I could tell by the silent atmosphere..the looks in my teacher's faces, my friend's faces...horrified, shocked, speechless...something had gone terribly wrong. On the television, NBC's Today Show cameras where focused on the World Trade Center. When I first saw the scene, I felt for the first time that my country was no longer protected, like I was vulnerable, right there in a town of 2400 people. We sat and watched as reports came in of what where found to be false alarms. Then the towers fell. I didnt believe it. How could they just fall? How many people where inside? What about the rescuers? My mind was racing, simply trying to comprehend it all. Then the Pentagon was shown, just a distant view of the billowing smoke. From that view, one could hear the military jets flying above the United States Capitol. I could feel the chaos, from so many miles away. For an hour and a half, the whole library sat silent, in shock. I knew we where in for a very different future.

I think everyone's lives have changed since September 11. From the security at the airport, to going to a large sports arena, to simply being in a large crowd. The changes because of September 11 are everywhere.