“I was in 9th grade at North Hall High School. It was picture day of all days. But before that, I was in technology class to start the day, and the teacher got a call and quickly turned on the classroom TV. We all stopped what we were doing and sat and watched the news. By the time class was supposed to end, we watched live as the second plane hit the tower. It was shocking and we were in total disbelief.

It was so hard to comprehend even then, but I remember older juniors and seniors making statements about WWIII coming, adding to the anxiety. We were forced to go through the motions of the day, but every class was discombobulated and no one could truly focus on anything. Teachers were teary-eyed and distraught. We all just wanted to be home. It was terrifying to watch and see so many innocent lives leaping to their death and to realize when the buildings collapsed that so many lives were lost, and countless lives would forever be changed because of it. Needless to say, I see my picture in that yearbook and remember the feelings and thoughts while still being asked to ‘smile.’”

“I was teaching middle school in my 2nd year of teaching at Franklin County when a student came to my class and said ‘coach, they got us!’ I had no idea what he was talking about, and went to the internet to find it. There was a lot of uncertainty the rest of the day and the next few days. Now we have a whole generation who doesn’t remember that day.”

“I was four years old and in Pre-K. I remember my mom picking me up that day and explaining to me what happened, and coming home, and my dad was watching the CBS Evening News like he’d done forever, and seeing the imagery of what happened. I was too young to understand the magnitude of what happened, but I knew it wasn’t good.”

“At sixteen, history is something you read about in textbooks, not something you witness. I was an 11th grader at Habersham Central, walking out of Mrs. Morrison’s math class toward HCLC, when the world changed. I remember the hallways being densely crowded yet utterly silent—a striking, unnatural quiet. Students clustered beneath the hallway TVs, watching the news in shock. The first tower had already been hit. When we reached HCLC, we glued our eyes to the screen and watched the second plane strike. 

The experience felt entirely detached from reality. At that age, you don’t believe things like this can happen. The days that followed blurred together. Classmates with family in New York brought back harrowing, unbelievable tales from the epicenter of the nightmare. The gravity of the event truly sank in that Friday, when the school brought everything to a halt, canceling all sporting events and practices.”

“I was in 3rd grade, Mrs. Voorhis’ class. I’ll never forget how nice of a day it was, which was significant because the principal came on and announced we had indoor recess that day. Looking back now, I don’t know how our teachers kept it together as we endlessly complained about how nice it was outside. Riding the bus home a few of my friends told me there was a terror attack in New York, and being that I grew up in New York (albeit ~3 hours from the city) I thought it had happened right down the road. The strangest thing was when I got off the bus and both of my parents’ cars were in the driveway. They typically got home around 6 PM and my siblings watched me for the time being. When I walked in the door they sat me down and asked if I understood what had happened.

That’s about all I can remember from that day, but those memories are quite vivid 25 years later.”

“I was not in coaching and was working in the lumber business in sales. I was at my home office and had the news on and was getting ready to start the day when I looked up and saw the TV and will never forget that moment.”

“I was in sixth grade in a pre-algebra class at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School when someone came into our classroom and told our teacher to turn on the news. We spent the rest of the day watching the coverage. As a sixth grader, I did not fully understand the gravity of what was happening, but I remember realizing that it must be something very serious because there was no more teaching for the rest of the day. I vividly remember how unusual it felt to see our entire school day come to a stop as we watched the event unfold on television.”

“I remember where I was on September 11, 2001. I was working at the University of Georgia while I was going to school and finishing my degree. When we were told to leave and sent home because the country was under attack, I remember being terrified. We were told that terrorists had hijacked planes and were flying them into buildings, and it was difficult to comprehend that something like this was actually happening in our country.

My first thoughts were about the people who were on those planes and inside those buildings. My heart broke for them and for their families. I couldn’t imagine the fear and helplessness they must have experienced. There was so much uncertainty because nobody knew what was going to happen next or whether more attacks were coming.

It was one of those moments when everything seemed to stop. The fear, sadness, and uncertainty of that day have stayed with me. September 11th changed the way I looked at our country and made me realize how quickly life can change. Most of all, I remember feeling deep compassion for the innocent people who lost their lives and for the families who were left behind.”

“I was a senior in high school. I had forgotten to finish my annotated bibliography for our senior paper in English. I had convinced my Mom to let me check out of school and go home and finish before it was due. I remember sitting at our family computer in the living room waiting on the dial-up internet to connect. I was flipping through channels trying to find something to watch and there was an all-news bulletin on every channel. I did not even stop on the channel to see what had happened. I then went back to school where I found out what happened. Crazy times, it is the only time I have known Georgia to cancel a whole week of football. We played that week after what was supposed to be the last week of the season.”

“I was a freshman at Marietta High School on 9/11. We were in an assembly and they suddenly told us to go to our homeroom class. Once we arrived in class, our teacher had the TV on the news coverage and was just staring at the TV. He then explained that a plane had hit one of the towers and as we were watching the coverage the second plane hit and everyone was silent and just gasped. I remember feeling sudden sadness and uncertainty because no one really knew what was actually happening.

I remember silent tears when seeing street level camera views, all of us coming together and praying, and hugging those around us. There were also some faculty and students frantically trying to get ahold of friends and family who may have been traveling that day or that were in NYC.

Some of the students had parents pick them up from school and those of us who stayed, watched news coverage and held each other close for the remainder of the school day. I was in my freshman season of volleyball, but the world paused that day, no after school activities were held, and we all went home to our families to hold them close. That evening I sat with my family as President Bush addressed the nation to try and comfort those that were grieving and promised a resolute response from the United States of America.”

“I was having breakfast at pastime grill in Barnesville, GA and was a college student at Gordon College. Saw it on TV at the grill and my first feeling was sadness watching the people jump to their deaths, but it was quickly replaced with anger to be honest.”

“I was a freshman at Western Carolina University and we had 5 AM workouts that morning for the redshirts & injured players. After workouts, I had a music appreciation class & I vividly remember walking into the lobby area & everyone was very quiet & huddled around the TV’s, which were all showing the first tower the first plane flew into.

I was obviously in shock at first and as the other attacks happened throughout the day, it was almost hard to believe that all of it could have happened to such a powerful country. We had a team meeting after practice that evening, & our head coach, Bill Bleil, told us that our upcoming game vs The Citadel was going to be postponed. Afterwards, in the locker room all of the guys were talking about it, and it definitely brought us closer together as a team, like it did for the majority of the country.”

“I was a student at Clemson University (I’m a diehard UGA Fan though, just clarifying) and I was living in a house with some friends in Clemson. It was a Tuesday, so I didn’t have class until noon. My dad called our house and woke me up and told me to get up and turn on the news. He was worried I’d already gone to class that day and wanted to check in before I went to tell me to be careful because nobody really knew what our country was dealing with yet. I can remember getting to campus and everyone being sad, worried, angry, and full of questions. My professor that day told us that we weren’t going to have class, but if we wanted to stay and talk about things he would. He was worried because he had a good friend that worked at the World Trade Centers that he hadn’t heard from (as best I remember, he finally got in touch with him and he’d been somewhere else that day or something). I can remember the confusion, the hurt, but above all I remember the U.S. IMMEDIATELY unifying and pulling together to pray for each other, help each other, and stand together against terrorism!”

“I was in Dr. Rhea Galati’s 11th grade ELA class when a classmate came running back from the restroom saying something bad was happening in NYC. She immediately turned on the television. When we realized what was happening, it was literal shock. Dr. Galati began making phone calls to her husband who was an army medic, and I can distinctly remember her saying over and over, “This isn’t good. This isn’t good.”

I watched the second tower fall from the Habersham Christian Learning Center, where we sat and prayed throughout the duration of the class. The entire school day was nothing but watching the news, trying to make sense of what was happening. That day is one that I will never forget.”

“I was at Woodland Middle School in Bartow County teaching an art class. Someone told me to turn on my classroom TV. I immediately thought it was a bad accident until I saw the second plane hit. Complete disbelief and shock. I remember the kids asking why was this such a big deal…”

“I was 6 years old, in Mrs. Schildbach’s first grade class at Hazel Grove Elementary School. I have small bits and pieces of remembering the events and days after the attack. I do remember watching news coverage on the small tv in the corner of the room, and kids being picked up by their parents. My mom worked at the school at that time and she came to find me and my brothers who were also in the school to tell us everything would be ok and we were safe. I also remember when we got home sitting down with our parents and praying for the those who were on those planes, in the towers or the pentagon, their families, the first responders, people of New York, and our country. I was young, but I do remember that feeling of fear of mainly not fully understanding what was happening and why. And the uncertainty the following days might bring.”

“On September 11, 2001, I was a first-grade student at Tuttle Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. Our classroom learned about the attacks when the custodian came into the room and told us to turn on the television. My classmates and I watched the news together and we turned the television off just before the second tower was struck. I also remember hearing jets flying overhead so close that they shook the walls of the classroom. I later learned that President George W. Bush was only a few miles away, visiting another elementary school in Sarasota County that morning. They were worried that our area could have been another target due to the President’s presence. My mom was a teacher in the classroom across the hallway, and at some point she came in to get me. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but I remember the feeling of being taken out of class and knowing that something was different.

When we got home that afternoon an image that stayed with me was my dad sitting at the end of the bed watching the news. He was still wearing his suit and socks, but he hadn’t even put his shoes on. The day had unfolded so quickly that he had apparently never gotten around to it before the news broke.

I was only in first grade, and I couldn’t possibly have understood what September 11 would come to mean for our country or for the people who lived through it. But I remember the small details of the day and the feeling of worry. I think it was probably noticing that the adults around me were realizing that the world was about to change.”

“I was in my 9th grade Language Arts class when the first tower was hit. At that time, the news had spread and it was assumed that it was an accident. We changed classes and my Geography teacher had the news on TV, and as we were watching, the second tower was hit. It was an immediate shock. Watching this happen live was unreal.”

“I was in my Life and Teachings of Paul class at Piedmont College. We actually had someone come by and say a small plane hit the Twin Towers. As we finished class, I walked into Daniel Hall and hundreds of students were watching the TV in the center and we saw the second plane hit. My immediate action was one of disbelief and shock. I immediately started praying and even as a 19-year-old, my heart hurt for all of the individuals and families involved.”

“I was in kindergarten. I can remember the TVs being on, which was really weird because they almost were never on. I was not really old enough to know what was going on, but I knew something was wrong because all of the adults were extremely concerned.”

“I was in my classroom during my planning period, and our principal let us know what was going on. I turned on the television (the one that was on the rolling cart!) and was horrified at the images that were coming on. I saw live the second plane flying into the second tower – at the time no one was certain what was going on, but once the second plane hit, I think we realized it was an intentional attack on our country. I was absolutely sick to my stomach and so very sad for the families and victims. As the day continued to unfold, there was a feeling of near disbelief that it was happening here on American soil. Disbelief, anger, sadness – just a mixture of emotions to be honest.”

“I was in the Columbus State training room. There was a TV and it was showing where the first plane hit. I was a student athlete and was completely shocked. That same day the first college I attended in New York, the softball team was handing out sandwiches as those people from the towers were crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. It hit me really hard, that it could have been me and all of those old teammates had no cell service or anything. Just terrifying for families and the destruction they were living in.”

“I was a sophomore at Piedmont College. I was in my dorm room, just getting ready for my first class that day, when one of my tennis teammates from the room next to me came over and said, ‘did you see what happened?’ I turned on the news and saw the aftermath of the first plane hitting the towers. I assumed it was some accident at first. I was watching live when the 2nd plane hit, and I couldn’t believe it. I will forever regret how immaturely I handled it at the time, and how I underestimated just how serious and awful this event was. When the buildings collapsed, it was even more surreal. Classes were canceled that day, and our country seemed forever changed, but at the time I was watching it happen, I never imagined just how much it would change things for our country and the world. My older brother enlisted in the army soon after, and he’s still serving as a Lt. Col. after multiple deployments to the middle east and surviving many dangerous situations as an Army Ranger. I’m so grateful God has protected him through it all.”

“5th grade social studies class. Heard the news from my teacher. We rolled a TV out and watched the news the rest of the day.”

“I was in Highlands, NC, teaching science class at Highlands School when my husband called and said a plane had hit the tower. We were scramming trying to find a TV that had an actual news channel. My immediate reaction was shock and fear for the people in the towers. It was heartbreaking to watch especially when the second plane hit.”

“I was in the fourth grade when my teacher was called into the hallway. When she came back into the room, she got the room’s attention and told us something terrible had happened. We could tell by the look on her face that she was very concerned. We must have looked worried because she immediately told us that what had happened had not happened here in our small town but in New York. She then told us we would be watching the news the rest of the day. She didn’t explain to us what had happened, but I do remember her telling another teacher we would be going to war soon.”

“I was teaching an Algebra 2 Honors class at Keswick Christian School in Seminole, Florida. Another teacher knocked on my door and told me to turn on the classroom TV, and that’s when I saw it on the news.”

“I was at home with my newborn baby girl when I saw the news come on TV and watched the second plane go into the other tower. I was completely shocked and in disbelief. I just couldn’t grasp what was going on.”

“I was in Kuwait with our Group Commander doing an operational inspection. That afternoon (Kuwait time) he treated the troops to pizza in a little pizza bar on Camp Doha and watched the planes hit on the news live. The room was full of JTACs and support personnel and we knew even the first plane could not have been an accident. The Group CC and I left immediately to return to Fort Bragg, but got stuck in London until airspace opened back up. Less than two months later, I was fighting in Afghanistan.”

“I was sitting in my 8th grade science class in Johns Creek, GA. River Trail Middle School. At first, the teachers were unsure of what was going on and how to handle the information. Eventually, our teacher turned on the TV and we watched the live news updates. Throughout the day, the majority of the students were checked out by their parents. Many didn’t return to school for a week or two due to fear of more attacks.”

“I was sitting in my 4th grade desk when the announcement came over the intercom saying we were dismissed from school. Once my parents got there to pick me up, I saw the news on the old school TVs we had in the hallways. I didn’t comprehend what magnitude at the time but didn’t take very long to understand in the coming days and weeks.”

“I was on my way to college and I heard about it from the Regular Guys Morning Show! The details were really vague when I first heard. All that was told was a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center – it was after I got out of class that morning that I heard the full extent of what happened. I was in disbelief.”

“I was sitting in exercise physiology class at West Georgia and our professor (Dr. Lester) stopped in the middle of this lecture and told us the horrible news. He immediately dismissed us and I remember all of us running to the student center trying to find a TV cause we couldn’t believe what was going on. Thinking back about it, I think we all were in shock and struggled to process it.”

“I was in 7th grade social studies with Mrs. Wood. We still had TVs in our classrooms then, and she turned it on so we could watch what was happening. When we first started watching, the second plane had not hit yet. Once it did, everything changed. You could tell the adults were nervous, and even as kids, we could sense the anxiety in the room.

What stands out to me now is how unreal it still feels. In a strange way, every year that passes makes it feel even more unbelievable that we actually watched something like that happen in real time.”

“I was in sixth-grade reading class, it wasn’t even 9 AM, when an announcement came over the intercom telling teachers to stop everything and turn on the news. We were also told that any student who needed to call home should be allowed to do so.

We watched the coverage for the rest of the day. The entire school was unusually silent, there was no recess or gym class, and at lunch, no one really knew what to say. At that age, it was difficult to fully comprehend what we were witnessing, but we knew the world had changed.

Looking back, I believe that day shaped how I process catastrophic events. Experiencing something so devastating during such a formative time created a sense of emotional detachment or disbelief that has stayed with me whenever another major tragedy occurs.”

“I was the RB & DB Coach for Gilmer High School, I was in my 5th year of teaching and coaching. We were getting ready to play Woodward Academy that week (which was postponed) and my wife was very pregnant with our second child who would be born on Sept 18.

Heard about it at school and quickly turned on our TV which had a closed circuit feed from CNN. I’ll never forget it. Was very troubling and it astonished me that this could take place in America with no warning.

I will add that the patriotism that came as a result was also incredible and I’ve never seen that level before or since. Shame it took a tragedy for that to happen.”

“On September 11th, I was sitting in 7th grade Social Studies class. Our teachers were told not to inform us of what was happening or turn on the TV to watch the news. However, my teacher believed it was important for us to know what was going on so she turned on the local radio station so we could listen to the news reporters. I remember us just sitting in class, listening, and reacting to what they were saying. We did nothing the teacher had planned in class that day. She gave us time to respond to the events happening however we needed to, whether that was sitting quietly, crying, talking to our friends, or even calling home. I remember lots of kids getting checked out of school early that day. My immediate thoughts were all over the place because I didn’t understand why it was happening and why someone would ever do something like that. My heart hurt so badly for those people who lost loved ones on that day and it’s still so heartbreaking to think about how that day has had such a significant impact on our country.”

“On 9/11, I was a freshman in high school, sitting in my business class in Florida. I remember my teacher stopping class to tell us what was happening and then turning on the TV so we could watch the news unfold live. My immediate reaction was shock and disbelief, but that quickly turned into concern for my friend who was in class with me. Her older brother was a firefighter in New York, and I remember our class trying to keep her calm while she tried to contact her parents and wait to hear from him.”

“I was a 2nd year teacher at Banks County Middle School. I was teaching a 7th grade social studies class when my principal quietly stepped in my room and handed me a note. The note read “The World Trade Center is on fire and it is a possible attack. Do not tell the students!” After class, I went to the media center and saw the twin towers collapse on live television. My initial thoughts were a mix of fear, anger, sadness, and confusion. There were several rumors going around about more possible attacks on the country that day. I’ve never experienced anything like that day and pray I never will again.”

“I was coaching and teaching at Truett-McConnell College. That morning I was in the weight room just finishing up class and getting ready to go to our convocation. I just turned the television on when the second plane flew into the WTC. My first thought was that the pilots were incapacitated or had medical issues which caused the planes to fly into the buildings. Later that morning I found out the US had been attacked by terrorists, and felt how vulnerable our country can be at times. Also, I was disgusted about how many innocent people were killed, hurt, and families affected by these senseless actions that went on though the morning.”