One Student...9/11

As I continue to watch the footage of 9/11 I am deeply reminded of how precious life really is...I cant seem to stop the tears, even though I did not know anyone personally who lost their life. Its just that I remember so vividly where I was and how I felt...

I was beginning my first year in high school and was nervous already because I was in a new environment and was the low man on the totem pole! I remember walking into health class and taking my seat like normal...but then an announcement came across the intercom for all teachers to turn the news on in classrooms. My large football coach of a teacher was completely silent. There was no movement and no sound. Just worry and fear that filled the walls. We left class and as I walked into English we watched the second plane fly into the second tower...

My teacher cried, and I know I felt helpless....why would this happen? My naive mind thought it had to be an accident...right? No one would do this on purpose would they? These were my thoughts even as I learned the truth. It took me quite a while to understand this because in my short life I had never seen such planned out and purposeful evil. I remember being scared to get on the bus...would I make it home? Are we really safe? My thoughts are blurry after this as I do not remember who I spoke to about this and what we discussed, but looking back I know that this has affected not just me but my generation forever...

Two years later I visited ground zero and the feel upon seeing it is one of awe...of quiet...of respect...of sadness...yet one of pride in our men and women and of hope for a brighter future.

I thought of my students today and how they were not even born...they did not experience it first hand, but how they will be forever affected. We did a short lesson on Friday on our Heroes and what makes someone a hero. We brainstormed the many heroes in our lives such as parents, pets, teachers, policemen, firefighters, doctors, nurses, God etc.

One answer though stopped me in my tracks and really made me think. One student raised his hand and said that He was his own hero...umm...ok, I thought...how do I respond to this???

He continued to explain that he was in charge of himself..he would be proactive and be his own leader/hero...WOW.

I started thinking about the men who actually committed this crime and tragedy...what if they had been in charge of their own lives and decisions like this little 6 year old and had not rallied behind another just because they thought it's what they should do? What if they had the courage to make their own choices and say No...I want more, I want a better life...? While these questions do not change the past, this one student in my classroom impacted me as a teacher in a great way.

Yes it is important to remember and honor those that gave and lost their lives. Yes it is important to teach respect and honor for our country. More importantly though, it is critical as educators that we teach students how to make honorable decisions...how each one can be their own HEROES.

Remembering 9/11 and this tiny moment in my classroom forever...