9/11's Impact: Students Reflect on Day That Changed America

They were only in second grade when the world changed—and for many, they didn’t realize the gravity of the situation.

“On Sept. 11, I went to school and everything went normally from what I can remember,” said Bridgewater-Raritan High School senior Amy Hopper. “I didn’t understand the gravity of it until years later.”

“When I got home from school, my mom told me that there had been a plane crash, but I don’t quite remember my reaction,” she added. “I knew it must have been a big deal if my mom was being so serious, but I wasn’t quite sure why.”

For many students now about to enter their senior years of high school, that day 10 years ago was like any other until they got home and heard that something had gone wrong.

“I don’t think we had much of a discussion in class, and my parents didn’t say much to me about it either,” said student Mariah Xu. “I was completely oblivious to the whole thing until I got home and my neighbor told me about it.”

For Xu, she was told the general gist of what had happened, but didn’t fully understand what it meant.

“I was told that two buildings in New York City had fallen down and that a lot of people had gotten hurt,” she said. “But the immensity of it all didn’t dawn on me until much later.”

Student Lucy Lin said she was in second grade at the time, and almost felt like it was any other day—except that classmates were being picked up from school early.

“I didn’t understand what was happening, only that something very bad had occurred,” she said. “Nobody elaborated on that until a week or so after the event.”

“Someone said that a plane was hijacked and it flew into the Twin Towers,” she added. “The person added that chaos like this frequently happens in New York City though.”

But clearly this day was unlike any others, as thousands died when the Twin Towers came crumbling to the ground, and another plane crashed into the Pentagon while yet another crashed in Pennsylvania.

“I thought that I was dreaming,” said student Vy Karra. “I couldn’t imagine so many people being killed at one time. I had only known of one death in my family and it was that of my grandfather, whom I barely knew.”

“It was discussed a little bit in school, but I think the teachers were still too shocked by what had happened to discuss it properly,” he added.

For Struan Erlenborn, who was in first grade at the time, he just remembers that it was a beautiful day outside, and his dad picked him up from the bus stop and explained what had happened.

“I never thought much of it when my dad told me,” he said. “Being 6 years old, I didn’t really have much of a strong capacity to understand tragedy. Later that night, however, watching the news, I realized what a horrific incident it had been.”

Jonathan Lu, then in second grade, said he remembers being confused about having an early dismissal from school. When he got home, he said, his mom was watching the looped footage of the planes crashing into the towers as it was shown on television.

“I think I was told the rough outline of what everyone knew, although I was confused as to why something that happened in New York City forced schools to let out early,” he said. “I think I remember that it was because people had fears that schools would also be targets.”

“I was thinking about how different the dismissal was,” he added. “It was kind of exciting how parents were rushing in at different times to take their kids home, and I was struck by how they all shared the same mood.”

For many students, since that day, they haven’t had much discussion about the attacks themselves in school—only the feelings that came after them.

“The general sentiment is that the 9/11 attacks were tragic and horrifying,” Xu said. “We, as in my classmates and teachers, don’t really get into much detail when we’re discussing them. Mostly we express feelings of loss and patriotism.”

“I remember throughout elementary school having to stand in front of the flag for a moment of silence,” she added. “The moment of silence seemed to get shorter and shorter each year.”

Although Xu said she felt like everyone was getting almost indifferent during these moments, she recently took part in an extended discussion about the attacks during a history class, as they talked about how much the country has changed.

“It extended into the issue of the mosque being built near Ground Zero, and we also talked about how the global image of Americans has changed drastically since then, as well as about the wars the United States is fighting currently,” she said. “I really appreciated the time we took in class to talk about it. I think that we shouldn’t be too out of touch with the national and global events that have happened, are happening and will happen in the future, especially when we’re in school.”

Erlenborn said the attacks, for him, are conveyed in school as acts of terrorism against the United States by al Qaeda.

And Lu said he finds it serves as more of commemorative event on the calendar.

“We’ll receive packets of information and watch documentaries, and we may engage in classroom discussions of the memories various people have of the day,” he said. “Sept. 11 doesn’t fit seamlessly into the school curriculum, so it’s usually a departure from the material we would otherwise be learning about.”

For many, they are no more worried about travel after 9/11 than they were before, in part because flying is all they really know.

“I guess that since 9/11 happened when I was 7 years old, I’ve always been used to these security measures,” Xu said. “I don’t really have anything else to compare the current situation to.”

For Lin, extra security measures on planes are what she is used to, particularly because she didn’t fly much before 9/11.

“Security at the airport has become more uptight,” she said. “For me, uptight means confiscating more items that are deemed ‘potentially harmful.’ Security took away my friend’s liquid gel pens one time, thinking they might be bombs, which of course they weren’t. High security just became a part of the process of going on a plane.”

Lu said he too has noticed some inconvenient restrictions on planes since 9/11, and he understands sometimes they can be problematic, but, for him, it’s just something that has to be done.

“I’m pretty comfortable with travel,” he said. “While some security measures seem excessive, I find it hard to imagine anyone pulling off a successful attack, and the fact is, I don’t know of any real disruptions that have happened since 9/11, so I don’t see any reason why I should be worried about my security.”

And Erlenborn has a completely positive view, supporting the extra security measures.

“I have no fear when traveling,” he said. “I trust our government with my life and I have no reason to be disappointed. Travel is safer than ever.”

“I’m never one to complain when flying just because I know the necessity of tightened security,” he added. “I would rather give up 10 minutes than be subjected to a similar attack that would ruin the lives of thousands.”

For some students, they have noticed increased tension around Muslims, and are concerned about that kind of response.

“I’ve noticed an increase in fear of Islam and Muslims, and anyone with brown skin and black hair,” Karra said. “Worldwide as well there has been an increase of fear of Islam. And the fear is a little exaggerated in my opinion because not all Muslims are terrorists, there are religious fanatics in every religion. So the fear is a bit overdone in my opinion.”

Hopper also said she thinks people need to calm down around those who may look a little different.

“It’s a little ridiculous to me that people freak out when they see men in turbans,” she said. “The white guy in the business suit that you’ve cleverly positioned yourself next to so as to avoid the Arab could have a bomb strapped to his chest too.”

“I see a lot of ignorance in people and that bothers me,” she added.

*Leading up to Sept. 11, Bridgewater Patch will examine 9/11's impact on the community and how lives have changed, and reflect on those who died in the attacks 10 years ago.
Tuesday—The school district discusses how it teaches Sept. 11 to seventh through 12th graders, and we offer a special You Said It with county residents talking about their thoughts on how the world has changed.
Wednesday—Former New York City firefighter, and Bridgewater resident, Jim Murray shows pictures he took on 9/11.
Thursday—The Martinsville Volunteer Fire Co. talks about it brought water to rescue dogs at ground zero.
Friday—The police department discusses how its training has changed since Sept. 11. And we offer a special You Said It with county residents talking about their thoughts on how the world has changed.
Saturday—County residents speak about how Sept. 11 changed their lives.
Sunday—We cover local and county Sept. 11 memorials. 

In case you missed it:
Thursday—We looked at a  that we thought was representative of the feelings of Americans today.
Friday—We remembered those residents who died in the attacks.
Saturday—We presented photos of the Twin Towers taken by residents.
Sunday—Former Bridgewater resident John Kazan talked about what it was like in New York City on Sept. 11.