10 years ago

Where were you 10 years ago? I was 20 years old when it happened.

I was driving to school when the first plane hit, and at first, I thought it was some kind of hoax (I had on the radio). All I had on my mind was finishing the day and what I was getting my best friend for her birthday.

When I got to school, I realized it wasn’t a hoax. They had wheeled out the big TV into the student lounge and everyone just kind of sat around, numbly, totally quietly watching the news and what happened. I didn’t know anyone personally involved, but seeing what happened hurt a part of me so deeply. My dad’s family are refugees here and to see someone hurt the nation that granted my family solace and refuge from a Communist regime just crushed me. I know I sobbed that day.

I still feel sadness about this day every year, but it is tempered with hope and happiness. My best friend still celebrates her birthday every year and that reminds me that, despite what they tried to do in that act of terror, we are still a strong nation and we are still standing tall and moving on, even when they wound us. And that makes me proud of my nation and of the people who live here.