Anxiety in the 6th grade classroom

By Rachel Brumm: I remember that day all too well. I was sitting in my 6th grade math class. Just another normal day, gorgeous weather outside. Suddenly the principal's voice comes over the intercom in the room and she tells us to turn on our TV's. I'll never be able to get that horrific sight out of my mind. She asked for a moment of silence. Tears came to my eyes, I was young but I knew what it meant for many losing loved ones. Our teacher just broke down. I looked around the room at others' faces. A few others were crying, a few just looked sad, and yet others simply had this dumbfounded look on their face, like they had no idea what was going on. But there was one girl in particular that was very distraught. I thought she was having an anxiety attack. She couldn't even speak, and we soon found out why she was such a mess. Her father was on a business trip to NYC and his work had been in the twin towers. God must have sent an angel though because we found out later that he had been running late that morning, and he wasn't even there yet. If only the others were so lucky. I remember school got let out an hour or so later and the parking lots just filled with upset mothers and fathers there to pick up their children. I remember my mom picking me up and heading to the gas station, where we picked up the "extra" copy of the newspaper for 50 cents. We took it home and read it. That's what I remember.

Every year this time comes around, on September 11th I wake up in the morning and take the time out to say a prayer for those who lost their lives, their families, all those others affected, our men and women serving in the armed forces and fighting for our country, and everyone else, that God watches over them and keeps them safe. I'm scared. It's scary to see something like that can happen to so many people, and in the blink of an eye. Granted, I don't think terrorists would choose Iowa out of the rest of the country for an attack, but I still fear for my life. I will never get on a plane, train, boat, anything like that on September the 11th. And it's sad. It's just sad that there's such terrible people in this world that would do something like that, and have so many people fearing for their safety in this country where we're supposed to feel free.

Nevertheless, we have to be united and strong, and keep on keeping on.

God bless America <3