Even though it’s been ten years after the attacks on September 11, Niles West students and staff still recall the feelings and thoughts that they had associated with that date.

Students were mostly shocked and confused when they first heard the news in early elementary school.

“I was surprised. I didn’t think anyone would ever do that,” remembers junior Christin Ahmad.

“I was young. It was hard to understand [what was going on],” said junior Aditi Brahmbhatt.

Many students remember finding out about 9/11 while being in school.

“I remember when my second grade teacher sat us down on the carpet and tried to explain what happened while she was crying,” says senior Maggie Wibright. “And then the entire grade just sat in our classroom and watched the news on our tv.”

People are still affected by 9/11’s tragedies.

“It increased my patriotism and my interest in government and foreign affairs,” says junior Justin Sia.

“[It] made me come to terms that the racial hatred and prejudice [levels] has been stammering; This was the opportunity for us to see how ugly-we- the United States- and hateful we have the potential to be,” remembers IRC librarian Anita Baker.

Regardless of how people remember 9/11, it is still a day that will never be forgotten.