Looking back at such events is just as haunting of a memory today as it was when tragedy struck over a decade ago. You were an employee, a parent, a sibling, a child, a loved one- you were a human being that Tuesday morning. Like all of us, you were prepared to start the new day because it was just like any other. But at 8:46 am, our reality and perception of the world would soon change. At 9:02 am, it became clear that the United States was under attack, and what started as suspicion became a certainty that the world as we saw it would never be the same again.

I was very young when the attacks happened. My parents, and anyone for that matter, could tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing the moment the images of the towers started flooding the TV and radio waves. My memories are mostly formulated from the accounts of what my family has told me about that day. It's only now that I am older that I understand the gravity of what truly took place. It's hard to imagine that such evil could occur within our own nation. And for many people as a result, it caused them to lose a type of innocence that they perhaps once saw in the world. For the people of New York City, Washington D.C, and for everyone that was affected by the day’s events, they all went through and saw things that no one should ever have to encounter in their entire life.

In the days that followed however, the world did something back as a response: we came together as a society because it wasn’t just the United States that was impacted, but other countries across the world were shook too by this event. All of us became one body, and one mind in those upcoming days. And it gave us hope that perhaps the world isn't all bad as it may seem. It is important to have faith, but above all have hope in the community of people. The ones responsible for this cruelty truly win if humanity fails to work together.

Today, there are various memorials spread throughout the country honoring the brave men and women that lost their lives. Whether they were a firefighter, police officer, EMT, Nurse, doctor, army personnel, or even the average citizen, everyone was a hero that day. In New York City, the One World Trade Center stands at an impressive 1,776 feet and is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Just below the building is two reflecting pools that mark where the original World Trade Center buildings stood. With each year that passes, may those who lost someone to this tragedy find the strength and peace to continue on in their lives. The memorials may be smaller each year, but we will always remember this day in history. We will remember where we were and who we were with as time came to a halt, and we stopped to look at the tv screens to see what was unfolding before our eyes. In the end, we will never forget this day, as it will always remain in our minds and hearts.