Remembering September 11th

My name is Monica Wahid and I am currently interning for WomenWorking.com! 

I am a born and raised New Yorker and was six years old when the twin towers went down. My mother, a doctor, was at work and personally saw the towers go down. You can only imagine the terror she felt, especially because my brother and I were in school at the time. Now I live in Long Island and am a junior at Pace University, and every year I visit the 9/11 memorial to pay my respects to the heroes we lost.

In honor of the 14 year anniversary and all the men and women we lost to this tragedy, I interviewed a few Pace University students to find out how raw the emotions still are 14 years later.  

Although the initial pain has past

The scars are still there

Maegan Kaiser is from Long Island, New York and was five years old when 9/11 occurred. 

At the time, her grandfather worked on the 22nd floor of the twin towers. Fortunately, he had a bad feeling that day and called in sick, which saved his life. Maegan is very grateful for her grandfather’s instincts, because she could spend a few more years with him.

From 9/11, Maegan learned to be cautious towards air travel. She takes extra precautions before traveling anywhere by plane.

 

Sometimes listening to your heart 

Can keep you closer to the ones you love

Brittany D’Avino is from Staten Island, New York.She was six years old and in school when she heard the news.

Her father and two uncles were firemen and first responders. She remembers being terrified, uncertain if she’d ever see her dad ever again. He fortunately returned, but many others were not as lucky.

Brittany has seen the impact 9/11 has had on first responders. Every 9/11 anniversary, in honor of her father, uncles and friends, she goes to the memorial ceremony in her father’s firemen jersey.

Knowing loss can break you as a person

But it can also make you stronger

Brieonna Croston was eleven when the tragedy happened. Originally from Washington D.C., she experienced the other side of the attack when the Pentagon was struck.

Today Brieonna notes the huge change in our country’s security, both at airports and at large political gatherings. She says, “Part of you still thinks, we were fine before it [9/11], but now everything has changed.”

 

  

 

Seeing the change is the beginning

Becoming the change is the goal

Michelle Miloscia was six when the attack on the twin towers occurred. 

Although young when the attack happened, she decided to apply for Pace anyway. Her family does have some worries about safety, but are relieved because of the extra security. Michelle believes that due to the attack, our country will forever be different and will continue to fight for freedom and justice. 

 

 

 

Forget what hurt you

But don’t forget what it taught you