A NEW DAY

It was just a Tuesday morning * I was in my room * The sun came up like always * My alarm clock went off at 9:00 p.m. * I was in the Engineering building * I was leaving the AFC * I was laying down getting ready to take a nap in my dorm room * We were going to D.C. for a volleyball game * The world changed in an instant * The first plane * heard about it on the radio when I was drying my hair * I found out when I came back from class * This really was happening * I had just gotten out of the shower and my roommate's dad called from New York and told us to turn on the TV * Then, another plane * I didn't really believe it * It wasn't an accident * My reaction was utter shock * I called both my parents * No dial tone * Panic * I was confused and looked at things more closely * I was stunned * I didn't really understand what was going on. Total disbelief * I was scared * Shocked * Even though I knew my family was safe I was still worried about them * Fear and nervousness * Watching the towers fall was unbelievable * A black cloud * It looked like a movie * It was real . . . unreal * I realized how quickly a life can change * It was an eye-opener * I was worried about my family * I couldn't make a phone call * All the phone lines were down * So alone. An empty skyline * We would never be the same again * At Ground Zero the atmosphere was solemn * Just a huge hole in the ground * Finally, the dust settled * The firefighters went home * I still see flags everywhere * I didn't feel like it was home anymore * So many tears * I know I have to move forward * That day will never leave me * There's just a piece of me that has been changed by it * I don't take things for granted as much * I am more aware of other people's perspectives on the United States *I think the patriotism will continue for a while * I feel like I can't let this affect me too much * It made me realize that we're not as impenetrable as we think * I'm a little more weary as I go about my daily life * I am more cautious * At home in New York, there is not a house without an American flag outside * There is an elevated sense of patriotism around every corner * I was in the city when they lit up the towers of light * On the Fourth of July you typically think of the founding of the nation * I definitely didn't think about that this year * I think it's drawn us closer together * Americans can be united * I'm still a little scared and nervous * It was a reality check * I didn't realize there was such hostility in the world * We do have enemies * Maybe we are not as powerful as we think * We have to put more trust in our political leaders * People are different all around the world * I feel safe * I don't like to live in fear * I try not to think about it * I turned to faith to pull me through these rough times * I treasure my family * They can be taken away so quickly * It is just a Wednesday * A year later * I will be in my room * The sun will shine through my bedroom window * My alarm will wake me up for class * They will swipe my card at the AFC * I will make my way to the E-School * We're still a nation in mourning * I think the feelings that came out of last year are going to come out again this year * Hope lives on * Saying it won't happen to me is out of the question * We were the generation without war * But now we are the generation with an attack * It has drawn us together forever * We will never forget **