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Eight years ago today, I was sitting in class, math class to be exact. (I think it was that day that I realized signing up for algebra at 8 o’clock in the morning wasn’t the greatest idea…) It was my first semester at Houston Community College; I had just turned 17 and I remember sitting in class, counting down the minutes until my professor would say, “Well that’s all the time I have for you today, I’ll see you Thursday.” But, I remember, mid sentence, an announcement was made over the intercom telling all faculty members and students to leave the premises immediately.

As everyone gave each other high-5’s and put their notebooks away, we all walked out of the building, excited. I was really excited to drive back home and do a swan dive into my cozy bed and catch some Z’s.

I got in my car, turned my cell phone back on and realized I had 8 new voicemails. (At that time I very seldom checked my voicemail's, which I obviously didn't at that moment). So, I continued on my way, and stopped at the red light on the Mason Road Bridge. When it turned green, I remember my phone ringing and my friend Stephanie Hager was frantic, it seemed like she was speaking a million miles an hour. She told me that terrorists had hijacked a plane and crashed it into the twin towers in NY.

I didn’t really know what to think…It wasn’t until I saw the aftermath on television that I was able to physically and mentally comprehend what had just happened.