September 11th 2001. A day that no one will forget. Impacting adults, teens, and even kids. Families were broken apart, and lives were changed. 5 freshman students share their opinions about this day. 

By: Tomnia Valentine

With such a clear sky and a good feeling ahead, every single person around had completely stopped. Time had inevitably come to an end. It was loud, but for some, it felt silent. 

People are not born with the knowledge of such a sorrowful day, they have been taught that feeling by people who have learned about it themselves, by people who have experienced it in a way that younger generations are not able to. 

While teachers and community members start to recall what it was like for them to experience it, teens are forced to hear it second-hand. To believe something from a video or from what the person five feet away from them says, rather than being five feet away from a dying family member or a destroyed tower.

Jaclyn Affonso, ’30, said, “I think schools do a very good job teaching about it. [Their teaching] helps us remember what happened, while also helping us learn to value our lives because at any given moment something could happen and that privilege may be gone. We should also be grateful for the people who risked everything to make sure each person was safe.”

Life is full of unexpected moments. One young child could have woken up that day thinking it would be fully swell. Just to find out that two planes being controlled by the wrong people had inevitably changed the world for the worst.

Desmarie Boykin, ’30, said, ” 9/11 changed the U.S. by teaching people to be grateful for the time they have because it can essentially be taken away at any time. Younger Generations can learn how to stay strong and really be the person that they wish others would be, especially in hard times. “

We are always told to take a second to remember the lives lost, but it should be a moment. September 11th will never be heard or thought of the same. Crying, screaming, and all in all, hurting is the baseline feeling. 

September 11th, 2026: what Redwood High School looks like.

Danylle Casstillejo, ’30, said, ” I think it is important because it shows us how our country behaves and how they support each other. It also shows how we grow and our ability to bounce back by continuing to live on. I believe today is a day that should be used to remember the lives that were lost as well as putting themselves out there to protect the lives of everyone else in the Nation.”

Explaining such a tragedy will always be a wow moment: Noah Garcia, ’30, going from a loss of words to saying, “it gave the U.S. a very hard time to get through; [younger generations] must be aware of what the past teaches the future generations.”

Another thing to be aware of is that 9/11 is not a day that America thought of and physically stated was going to be a holiday. Events were canceled, birthdays were interrupted, day plans became dreams. 

Leela See, ’30, said, ” In 8th grade, my teacher, who was born on 9/11, explained to me what it was because I was confused by the importance. I was very shocked that he was born on a day with such a terrible occurrence. I feel like it is important for students to learn about 9/11 because it was a very important day that affected a lot of people.”

“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom.” — Rudy Giuliani

Tomnia Valentine
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Tomnia Valentine is a freshman sports journalist. She is on the freshman cheer team and is currently dancing at a local studio. Tomnia is most looking forward to interviewing players and feeling proud after every finished story.

 

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