Changed by 9/11: Nicole Murphy, Student

Sept. 11, 2001 started out as one of the first few days of my 6th grade career, but around 9 a.m., that quickly changed.

I will always remember what a beautiful day it was - something that now seems so ironic. Sitting in my homebase classroom at Island Trees Memorial Middle School, I remember my teacher excusing herself and others coming in and out of our room in what seemed to be a frantic fashion.

My teacher returned in tears, which we would soon found out was because her son was scheduled to be at the World Trade Center that morning.

Throughout the day, more and more students were released to their parents. I remember talking with friends and classmates, wondering what could have happened, but our innocent selves could have never guessed. After all, "terrorist attack" is not that common in an 11-year old's vocabulary.

Shortly after school let out, my parents took my siblings and I to IHOP in Hicksville where we heard of the morning's horrific happenings over a bacon and eggs dinner. My sister was in high school at the time, where students were informed much earlier. As I was told of Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and the brutality that accompanied these names, I remember having a lot of questions - many that are still lingering today.

I don't think anybody will ever have all the answers as to what happened that morning, but I can say with certainty that I grew up a bit faster that day. Trying to fathom such heartless actions and to see heartbreak and loss worldwide taught me how truly precious life can be and just how quickly it can be taken away.