nmah4240.xml

nmah4240.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I live in Texas yet I remember 9/11/01 as if it happened yesterday. I am 23 years old, and was in college on the day our country was changed forever. It started as a normal day for me. I woke up, and staying in a dorm, I tried to be quiet so that I wouldn't wake my room mate. I actually had no idea what had happened until I reached my first class. I got there a bit early, and my teacher had not yet made it. Some of my friends and fellow classmates were there though and they began to explain that a plane had hit the world trade center. I thought "Maybe it was an accident," but as other students came in there was more news, another plane had hit the second tower. It could be a terrorist act some said, and yet I still held hope that it was just an awful accident. My teacher came into class and we all became quiet. He took roll and I began to wish class would end so that I could find out for myself what was going on. I wanted to know what was happening. It all felt unreal to me at that moment, maybe because I had heard it all second hand, I hadn't seen the pictures on the tv screen for myself yet. Our teacher explained that there were more planes missing, and one student asked if we could be excused for the day. Our teacher agreed, and I rushed back to my dorm. My room mate had just woken up and I told her what was happening as I reached to turn on the tv. I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched the first of the towers collapse, and at first I thought it was all a simulation, that the newscaster would return and say that is what "could happen," but no it was real, and remember sinking to my chair as I realised what I had just witnessed. My second shock came when the reporter on the screen said that what I had just seen was prerecorded, and moments later I watched live as the second tower fell.
Even more unbelieveable events happened that day at the Pentagon and a plane crash in Pennsylvania. I watched the news as often as I could during that day, most of it is muddled in my mind now. What I have just written is what I remember most vividly about 9/11/01, and I know these memories will stay with me forever.
2930 people have been confirmed dead as of today, the one year anniversary of 9/11 yet I feel that all Americans are victims. I still remember the fear of that day and there is always a worry in the back of my mind that something else may happen. My heart goes out to all of those who lost someone. God bless you all.