story5089.xml

story5089.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I am a fifth grade teacher at a local elementary school. We were told about the attacks via email from our principal and told NOT to tell the children. As I sat at the computer screen reading about the attacks, I felt my heart sink and my brain struggled to turn around and face 24 students with a smile on my face. How I did it I will never know. I felt like a zombie the entire day as I taught the subjects. Parents began showing up to pick up their sons and daughters and I wanted so badly to leave and hug my children. I live near TMI, the nuclear reactor and my biggest fear was that it would be targeted too. I was so glad when school was over and I could go home and just let out all the emotions I felt that day. I wanted to stay with my family and never leave them. My mind still cannot handle the terrible hatred these people have for us. I know I will never forget where I was and what I felt that day. Wendy Calvert Mountville Elementary 5th grade