Changed by 9/11: A Generation Growing Up During the Attacks

The effects of the attacks on 9/11 are felt differently by everyone, from young to old, man or woman. Locals who were in middle school and high school during the attacks shared with Patch how they have changed in the 10 years since 9/11.

"I was only 11 years old and didn't have an outlook on life yet, but when I got older I didn't have a false sense of security. I was [in the city] a couple of days before the towers went down and now every time I go there and don't see them, it symbolizes a whole different outlook in the way I feel about living in this country. I know anything can happen at any time and you have to be mentally prepared for something like that because there are people out there who want to hurt us."

–Roxanne Kornreich, 21

“I was in ninth grade when 9/11 happened. My mom pulled me out of school, and I asked, ‘is everything okay?’ She said, ‘planes went into the Twin Towers and Uncle Brian works there.’ We didn’t know if he was still alive. We went to my uncle’s house, and my aunt and cousins were there crying together. We finally got a hold of him. He was running late to work that day, and when he heard what had happened, he didn’t go. Thank God he was late for work and not in the building. Thank god he was alive. No one expects to go to work and die. It’s terrible. You don’t expect that. I’m sure they appreciate life more. It affects me too. Live your life as much as you can with your loved ones. Live it to the fullest. Go on vacations with your family.”

–Trevor Fisher, 24

"When I think about how 9/11 changed my life, well I travel all over the place, you know I go on vacations with my friends. And every time
I jump on a plane, you know a lot can happen. You never know whose right next to you. I’m a little creeped out every time I fly."

–Xavier Ortega, 26

Rita Egan, Dayna Pagano and Kenyon Hopkin contributed to this report.