On Sept. 11, 2001, I was at school. Grade 12. I had just finished my morning classes and when I went into the hall, everyone seemed to be in groups talking about one thing or another, even students who normally stood alone. I vaguely heard talk about planes, crash, USA but didn't pay much attention. I had decided to go home for lunch that day and when I walked into my home, my mom was crying in front of the TV set. I asked her what was wrong and she told me and we watched the TV. I ended up going back to school because after all, this was the states, not here and this was Grade 12, very important.

We later learned more details and for a week or so following the event, we were glued to the TV. Finally everyone stopped watching TV 24 hours except my mom whom we eventually pried from the TV because she was always in front of it and making herself more upset.

I knew that I should be concerned, not only because the US wasn't far from here but because things that happen in other countries supposedly affect us. I didn't understand how and how matter how much it was explained to me, I just didn't get it. I realized that people died and I was saddened by all of this but no one I knew had died and I didn't see how this would affect economy or anything else like that.

When it was found out that this was an act of Terrorism, I became a bit more concerned. I really was naive and didn't know much about Terrorism as the time but I quickly learned. I really did want to understand how war and terrorism and tragedy around the world affects everyone but I just didn't understand. I'm still not 100% sure I totally understand, but I have matured and learned since then a lot.

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