I was born and raised in New York, and Sept. 11, 2001, has had a major eye-opening impact on me and everyone else. In New York, you grow up with a lot of diversity of culture, religion and race.
On that actual day, I was not in New York; I was in Arizona at school. When I turned on the news at about 7:15 a.m., I was completely shocked. My first response was to call my father who works exactly one block away from the twin towers. When I found out that all cell phones and regular phones were not working, the most horrible thoughts were going through my mind. I am sure that every other New Yorker felt the exact same way; confused, helpless, and sick to their stomachs. Thankfully my dad was OK, but millions of other people were not as fortunate.
When I talked to people who went through the experience firsthand, they said they couldn't even explain the havoc in the city that day. People were running through the streets in hysteria, and covered in soot. The first time I came back to New York after this event, all I heard about from everyone was stories of friends or family who were killed in the attacks.
Until this day I still hear horrifying stories from family and friends, and everyone just feels so helpless towards these terrorists. Yesterday, when I was driving through Brooklyn, almost every apartment had an American flag hanging off the balcony or in their car windows. There were memorials all over dedicated to firefighters who were lost in these attacks.
Everyone around here has been really anxious lately, especially people who work in Manhattan near my father. In my eyes, the general mindset that New Yorkers have for today is a day of remembrance for those who were lost. The shocking events that happened almost a year ago will never be forgotten. They brought all the American people closer, but overall Sept. 11, 2001, will be a day of sadness that will never be forgotten.
