September 11th, 2012 I'm reading Hannah's blog-post, a fellow YES scholarship recipient already on program in Malaysia, reflecting on 9/11's personal impact on her, and thoughts whilst living in a muslim country during this anniversary of 11 years. I'm sitting at my home in America, anxiously waiting to start my YES Abroad experience in the coming weeks. I'm hoping that I might have something as moving as she had to say by the end of my own experience after living in a muslim country, and want to make the US State Department proud. I worry that I won't be able to give back to my community and country as much as I want to after the experience, but feel that something amazing is going to happen. I only remember moving into my new house this day 11 years ago as a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2011 I'm a sophomore in high school. School just feels normal, but i'm excited for the possibilities of this new year. I know I will always remeber the innocent people who lost their lives in the 9/11 tragedy, and am taking a moment of silence in school to do so. I only remember moving into my new house this day 10 years ago as a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2010 Its my first year of high school. The excitement of a new school and new friends is still fresh, I feel really cool, and I'm enjoying living in the moment. Although I still understand, and feel the tragedy, I only remember moving into my new house this day 9 years ago as a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2009 I'm an eighth-grader at a middle school that I'm not fond of. I can't wait to go to high school, and can't wait for this year to be over with. I am reminded of the tragedy at school and feel for my country, but I only remember moving into my new house this day 8 years ago as a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2008 I'm a seventh-grader. I live in London, England. I love my life here more than I've ever loved anything, I feel as though i'm in bliss living as a brit. This being said, I am staying true and have pride in my being American, and remind myself of the lives lost, and how much of an impact it has had on the world. I tell all my non-american friends the story of how I only remember moving into my new house this day 7 years ago as a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2007 I'm a sixth-grader, starting my new life in London, England with my family. I'm nervous about meeting new people, but so excited to be in such a cool city. My middle school career has just started, and fully consumed in starting a new life. My family honors and remembers the tragedy by telling stories, like how I only remember moving into our new house this day 6 years ago as a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2006 I'm starting my last year of elementary school as a 5th grader. I'm really sick of my school and can't wait to go to middle school. My school has a ceremony honoring and remembering the tragic events. I feel moved, but only remember moving into my new house this day 5 years ago as a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2005 I'm a fourth-grader. I'm excited to memorize the infamous states and capitals rap that only fourth graders get to sing. I am reminded by teachers that today is the anniversary of the tragedy in New York. I only remember moving into my new house this day 4 years ago as a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2004 I'm a third grader. I have my multiplications license. My parents remind me of what happened to innocent New Yorkers 3 short years ago when we moved into our new house when i was a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2003 I'm a second grader. I'm enjoying learning to write basic poetry. My teacher talks to my class about the attack on the World Trade Center two years ago when we were all kindergarteners.
September 11th, 2002 I'm a first grader and really proud that I can draw a tomato that transforms into a rose. The fact that many innocent New Yorkers were killed in an attack on the World Trade Center just 12 months ago is still fresh in my parents' and teachers' minds and brains.
September 11th, 2001 My family is moving into a new house because my baby brother was born and we need more space for everyone. My dad is talking on the phone with his brother who lives in Connecticut, he is telling us to turn on our tv. Our new house is still empty and our tv isn't hooked up to the cable yet. My uncle just told us that planes crashed into the twin towers in New York, the nation is in a state of shock. I'm a kindergartener.
September 11th, 2013 I am a senior in high school, truly enjoying my studies for the first time in my life. My AP-US History teacher said some really interesting stuff in class today about how my generation is shaped from this event in history, and asked us how we should properly document and share it with the coming generations, who's life will have begun post-9/11. This conversation is the reason i'm writing this blog post. I just returned home from spending my Junior year in Indonesia on a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad Scholarship, which was awarded to my by the US State Department, in efforts to change my generation's perspective on Islam after stereotypes were formed as a result of the 9/11 attacks. Through sending high schoolers like me, on exchanges to significantly muslim populated countries, the US government hopes to put negative stereotypes like this to rest. I sit before this computer, believing I made good use of my time in Indonesia. My personal questions were answered, some of my opinions stayed the same while some changed. I am home now, and although my mindset has changed, many of my friends and peers' hasn't. I feel passionate about Indonesia, and love it beyond words. I miss my life there. I have a very large task in front of me as an alum of this program, a task that I started the minute I got home. I have to make a difference. Not only has 9/11 shaped me as a person by ultimately sending me on this program, but it has shaped my generation in the way they think and act. I will always remember this day as the fatefully day innocent New-Yorkers lost their lives, and honor it as the day some men became heroes, and as the day my and my generations lives were changed right under our noses, and the day I moved into my new house, 12 long but faithful years ago, as a kindergartener.
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