This year for the first time, high school freshmen will learn about 9/11 as a historical event because they were not yet alive to experience it. Although, we are now 15 years passed this tragic and life changing event, dealing with its impacts has not become easier or more manageable. On September 11, 2001 almost 3,000 lives were lost and more than 6,000 were injured. The nation stood transfixed that day as we watched in disbelief as the Towers collapsed engulfed by smoke and flames. The lives lost, the senseless destruction and the collaborative rescue efforts to save lives and care for the wounded brought us together as a nation, and forced us to remember the characteristics laid out by our founding fathers: “One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.” Moments such as 9/11 have bonded our country in inexplicable ways; it didn’t matter what your race was, it didn’t matter what your gender was, it didn’t matter what your sexual orientation was, it didn’t matter what political party you belonged to, all that mattered was that a tragedy had occurred and that everyone was impacted.
Events like this remain with you forever. Living in Connecticut my entire life just an hour out of New York City, and knowing families who were directly impacted by the 9/11 attacks, made me acutely aware that you can’t take life for granted. Feeling safe is relative to the decisions others make around you. Nobody can control all of the events that occur in a day because people constantly face the concept of the unknown. One positive reminder from 9/11 is that you to treasure every moment that you have because no one knows how much time they have.
Rather than focus on the negative and wallow in the sadness or helplessness that you could feel over not being in complete control, it is important to take a step back and focus on what you can control. College can be a busy time and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the details of classes, exams, papers and co-curricular activities. Rather than being exhausted by the thought of completing all your responsibilities, try to enjoy the opportunities that you have. Getting education is an amazing experience that not all people have. Embrace it. Share your experiences with others. Take a minute and call your parents. Tell them about your day and remind them that you love them. Call your grandparents or siblings, if you have them, and do the same. Set goals for yourself and do everything you can in order to reach them. Sometimes things aren’t going to work out the way you want them to and it may leave you feeling disappointed, but that’s okay. Take a deep breath and move on. The tough things in life are the ones that force us to grow. Sometimes not getting what you want, forces us to learn and take an unexplored path that may reveal a relationship or experience that can alter our lives in a positive way. No one knows where life may lead you but it’s important to embrace the challenges of today and explore them fully. We are fortunate we have the chance.
The lives of 9/11 will never be forgotten. Although their lives were unfinished, we can honor them as a nation by working our hardest to live our lives to the fullest and remembering the unity that tragic day inspired in our country. Let that memory unite us and inspire us to be positive contributors to our nation.