Reflections on 9/11 Through My Eyes and My Son’s

The morning of September 11, 2001, is one etched in my memory as vividly as if it happened yesterday. The sights, sounds, and emotions remain just as sharp, even over two decades later. The phrase “Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?” often brings me back to that morning when life as we knew it changed forever.

I was a freshman at Lamar University, attending my U.S. History class with Mr. Anderson. I remember the buzz in the classroom as we settled in, completely unaware of what was about to unfold. After class, my friend Meagan and I walked over to the Mirabeau Café, where we saw the horrifying images of planes crashing into the Twin Towers playing on the TV screens. I can still feel the cold chill that went through me as we watched in disbelief, confusion, and overwhelming sadness.

In those moments, the world changed. We all changed. It was a time when the unthinkable became reality, and everything felt fragile. The days that followed were a haze of mourning, patriotism, and questions. We grappled with understanding an event that shook not just our country but the entire world.

Recently, my son watched a video about 9/11. After school, he said, “It was traumatizing to watch that.” His words struck me, because while he was seeing history unfold on a screen, I had lived through it. I experienced the uncertainty, the fear, and the heartbreak firsthand.

I told him, “I lived through that time. I remember every detail.” I explained how life shifted for all of us in ways that are hard to grasp for those who didn’t experience it in real time. The fear of another attack, the unity that emerged from the rubble, and the way every single one of us was impacted, no matter where we lived.

It’s difficult to convey to younger generations just how monumental that day was for all of us who witnessed it. What they see in documentaries or videos is the aftermath, the history, but for those of us who lived it, it’s much more than that. It’s a defining moment that shaped our lives in countless ways.

As a teacher, I often think about how to help younger generations and my own children understand not just the facts, but the emotional weight of 9/11. It’s our job to teach history, but it’s also our responsibility to share the human stories—the personal experiences that make these events real.

That day taught me the fragility of life and the importance of resilience. It’s something I carry with me, and it’s something I hope to pass on to my son. History is more than dates and events; it’s about people, their lives, and the ways in which the world changes around them. I’ll never forget where I was when the world stopped turning that day. And as my son begins to learn about it, I hope he understands the depth of what that day means for all of us.

We remember. We reflect. We rebuild.