Talk to Us: September 11 - Eleven Years Later

I was 21 and had just arrived in London for what was supposed to be an experience of a lifetime studying overseas for the academic year. It was my first time in a foreign country on my own, and I counted my blessings that language was not a problem - mostly.

In the days following the attacks I remember regretting the decision to study abroad entirely and plotting that once the airports reopened, I'd fly right back home to be with friends and family where I felt safe.

As human beings, we're often encouraged to venture out of our comfort zones in order to learn and grow. I couldn't see the value of that at the time but 11 years later, I very much appreciate the fact that I stuck around the UK and spent time befriending people I wouldn't have otherwise met.

At the time, I was on track to earning a science degree and while I did do that, my experience that year reinvigorated my love for writing and telling stories about the people that I meet in my life. In my idealistic 22-year-old way, I felt there was too much goodness and beauty in the world and that needed to be documented along with all the bad and scary news. Years later, that perspective had a direct correlation to my current position as your Patch editor.

What about you? How has living through the attacks of September 11 changed your life? Or has it? What memories remain most vivid for you, 11 years later? Tell us in the comments.