A Chemistry Class That Changed the World

The September 11th attack was still raw in everyone's mind when this song came out. I remember hearing this song for the first time and the fiftieth time. Every time I hear the song it takes me back to that life changing day. I was a sophomore in high school and sitting in my 1st period Chemistry class. We had just come into the classroom from homeroom when someone said we needed to turn on the TV. Someone turned on CNN or the local news, I don't remember exactly, but every station had the same coverage anyways. We all sat in awe as we watched a plane crash into the Twin Towers over and over and over again. The same scene was played probably a million times that day and for days to come. I don't think that image will ever leave my mind. Nobody did anything in class that day other than watch the TV as another plane crashed into the second tower, and as a plane crashed into the side of the Pentagon. I didn't know anyone personally who had family working there, but there were definitely students in my school who were hit personally. I remember after the Pentagon was hit that we were being targeted next- not our high school, but an aiport in Leesburg, VA only six miles from the high school. That scared me and probably every kid around me to death. It was just too close to home. I remember my name being called over the PA system along with probably another hundred names. My mom was there to come pick me and my brother up because they didn't want us at school anymore. We went home before lunch that day and didn't return for two days because of the effects on the world and how close it really was. The next few months I saw more flags and "God Bless America" signs than I ever have or probably ever will again. I helped make a thousand small red, white, and blue ribbons to sell to send in to aid families of the victims. It really was a day when the world stopped turning and maybe even went into reverse.