High school seniors recount memories of terrorist attacks
Today’s high school seniors were 13- or 14-year-old middle school students when the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, unfolded before the eyes of America. On the five-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks, senior students in an advanced placement comparative government and politics class at Laurel Highlands High School reflected on the attacks and how they believe it has changed the country.
As with many others, the students clearly remember the day that will always spark the questions “Where were you?” for them as the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the assassination of John F. Kennedy has for generations before them.
And most of these seniors can say they were inside Laurel Highlands Middle School, watching the devastation and destruction play out before their eyes on classroom televisions. It seemed like a movie. It couldn’t be real, they thought.
Senior Hayley Roycroft was in history class when she saw the second plane crash into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York at 9:03 a.m., nearly 20 minutes after American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower.
“I was speechless and kind of shocked,” remembered Roycroft.
Senior Shaina Kubizna was in study hall at the time of the attacks, before the school entered into lockdown stage where all students were instructed to stay inside the classrooms, and teachers were told to turn off the television sets despite the ongoing events.
“They said we didn’t need to see it,” recalled Kubizna.
Looking back on the series of events that made up that ominous September day, the seniors say their lives have been impacted little, though they are well aware of the impact on the nation.
“You realized the social impact that day, but you didn’t realize the foreign and political impact it would have,” said Kubizna.
Kubizna said as a whole, 9/11 made everyone more fearful for a while, while some students feel the urge to learn more to possibly prevent another terrorist attack from occurring.
Senior Emily Powell said the tragic events and war born out of it has caused her to want to learn more about other cultures and religions and to pick up a book on the subject.
Powell said the aftermath of 9/11, including the war on terror, made her realize the strong political differences that exist among world leaders and governments.
“They fight so much and disagree so much,” she said.
Teacher of the comparative government course, Eric Pringle, said students’ lives not changing much since the attacks indicates that terrorists haven’t achieved their goals.
“As a whole, you live your life like nothing strange has happened,” said Pringle. “Their goal is to change you life. … Their objective to make the U.S. change their policies hasn’t worked.”
The majority of students said they are not afraid to fly. Many traveled by plane just recently, and said they experienced tighter airport security since the attacks.
A couple seniors recounted having to take their shoes off to be checked by airport security before they were able to board their flight, added security measures they said they didn’t mind.
“I’d rather it take a while and be more safe,” said senior Neil Lepore. “I’m happy they check me.”
Though joining the military wasn’t something the seniors planned on doing after high school graduation, anyway, many said now it isn’t even an option they will consider.
The majority of students said the United States should not be involved in a war overseas. One student said there was lack of evidence to back up the war in Iraq, while another noted that too much money is being spent on the war.
Students agree that terrorism cannot be eliminated.
“There will always be terrorism,” said senior Megan Wyda. Kubizna said it’s an “unrealistic” goal to root out all terrorists.
Students also agreed that despite the casualties lost in the war, the United States cannot simply pull troops from the Middle East.