How Has September 11 Changed You?

On the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 the question of "Where were you" is often asked. But on this 11th anniversary, we're asking a different question. How have the terrorist attacks changed you or the way you think about the world?

Did something click for you on that dreadful day? Did you alter your career choice or begin to walk a different path after the terrorist attacks? Or maybe that day holds another meaning for you, like a birth or wedding anniversary. One family told the Delaware County Daily Times, how the birth of their daughter at 3:06 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2001 was the best thing that happened that day. Or maybe you decided to create a personal memorial like and memorialize the 9/11 victims.

I was in college on 9/11 and was watching Good Morning America while getting ready for class. When they came back from a commercial break, Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson's faces had completely changed from their normal, happy-go-lucky morning show routine. I had left for class thinking that it had to have been an accident somehow and my first class continued as normal. But by the time I got to my second class, everything had changed. The whole world had changed.

My professor said he wouldn't be teaching that day but we were welcome to stay and watch the news coverage on the giant projection screen in the stadium-seating classroom. I sat there watching with my mouth on the floor realizing all that had happened in less than two hours and realizing we were under attack.

I was glued to the news coverage for weeks after and looking back now I think 9/11 may have influenced my move into the journalism field. Watching both the seasoned and citizen journalists, I commended each of them for telling "the" story. I wanted to know everything and hear each account. As sad as each story was, I believe that it was the telling of those stories that brought the country and the world together.

I knew I had a talent for telling a good story but up until 9/11 I don't think I realized the power behind it. It was soon after that, that I changed my college focus to journalism, became a staff member of my college newspaper and began my journey of storytelling.

How did Sept. 11, 2001 change you? Tell us your story in the comments section.