New York City is a city like no other. For outsiders, it is a must see. The sites are truly breath taking and it really is the city that never sleeps. 
As a New Yorker, I have had the privilege to have all sorts of different experiences, whether good or bad. I remember September 11th, 2001 as though it was yesterday. The day began as any other day would. My mom woke me up early in the morning to make sure I showered and ate breakfast before school. My mom and I would leave at the same time as well. She had worked downtown at 59th street at the time for a dental office. We would ride the train together every morning. I would get off at 86th street and she would stay on until 59th. Nothing out of the ordinary, just another typical school day for me.
It was roughly 9 a.m when we had just heard news that school was over for the day and we were free to go home. We were not given a reason why, but I remember no one asked for one. In the fifth grade, if you hear school is over for the day, you’re packing your bags and walking out of the door as soon as you can before someone tells you it’s a joke. I left the school building and was surprised to find the streets crowded as though my school was located right in the middle of Times Square. Hundreds of thousands of people walking up and down Central Park in massive groups, trying to get home, trying to reach safety. At this point, I am still oblivious to what is happening around me, however I do know something is going on because this is not something you would see normally at 9 a.m. in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Trains weren’t running and the bridges and tunnels were closed. There were complete strangers getting into taxis together just because they were headed in the same direction, people hanging onto the backs of buses and trucks to try to reach their destination faster. I walked home alone that day, something I would never normally do. I remember it being somewhat of a fast walk. You can feel a sense of urgency in the atmosphere. Everyone seemed to be moving at such a fast pace. The walk home wasn’t very long. I lived no further than a mile from my school. I too had a sense of urgency to find out what was going on, but was too shy to ask a stranger on the street.
I remember arriving home to an empty apartment. Usually I would find my grandmother home when I arrive from school, but since today wasn’t an ordinary day, I did not find it surprising that she wasn’t there. I turned on the TV to see what shows were on, hoping to find some good cartoons on. The TV was set on channel two when I had turn it on. I immediately saw two buildings flaming and smoking. Clips of people trying to jump to safety. No longer than five minutes later the first tower collapsed. The second tower followed shortly after. I could not grasp the severity of the situation until the towers collapsed Seeing those two monumental building of New York City fall live, knowing thousands of people were still trapped inside, only brought tears to my eyes, tears that will never be forgotten.
With age, I was able to put the severity of the situation in perspective and thought of a question which I can’t say I found a complete answer for….What makes New York City so special that we’re able to bounce back from something so tragic as 9/11 and become even closer as a city and even stronger/more motivated New Yorkers?
