In a way, I was lucky. Our school didn't tell us when it happened. School wasn't canceled, but then, how do you tell children that terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center? I learned about it when I was watching TV, avoiding doing my math homework. They were interviewing some heavyset guy in a gray shirt, when the second tower came down. Camera cut back to the ABC studio, where Ron Magers said "the second tower has just collapsed."

I honestly had little clue what was going on. I didn't understand the impact of the event. All I remember was what happened after. One day, anthrax became the fad at school. Kids would go around during snack time, saying "I have to scan your snack for anthrax." Cheeto puffs got the anthrax alert. Our teachers were not happy.

Then we had to do a small report on a country. Afghanistan was forbidden.

My cousin joined the Marines for the invasion of Iraq. I wasn't worried. To me, the concept of him dying never popped into mind. Thankfully he didn't.

Ten years ago, it's surprising how little I knew or understood. Ten years ago, I never knew of pretty much anything, I was just a child. Now, my old high school has the memorial flag, with all the names of the fallen inscribed. Every time I walked past it, I was reminded how life can be destroyed in an instant. Not quite the intention they were going for in a school, I think.