story10174.xml
Title
story10174.xml
911da story story
On September 11, 2001, I was in my classroom at P.S. 191 in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.
As a NYC Teaching Fellow, I only started teaching the day before, and admired my view from the fourth floor; Queens, the Brooklyn Bridge and a view of downtown including the World trade Center towers.
People were entering my room all morning long. At first it was computer technicians, the rest, I didn't know. I thought they were looking at something technical.
With a roomful of kindergartners, I first noticed the smoke across my windows. I thought that this was odd and when I looked out the window, and thought, "My God, the Twin Towers are on fire!" I thought I'd best take a photo since this seemed extraordinary and when I focused my view finder, I saw the South Tower collapse in front of my eyes. I rubbed them and thought the smoke was playing tricks with my eyes.
At 12:30 when I was scheduled for lunch, the librarian asked if I wanted to have lunch in the library with the other teachers. She said, "We have the television set up." I thought the teachers were watching soap operas during lunch so I thought I'd go out of politeness - just this once.
When I saw my first news report, I didn't get it - planes crashing into the WTC? Did the pilot have a heart attack? Why wasn't the plane ditched in the harbor? I was quickly updated on the situation and fortunately was able to contact my family. I didn't know anyone who was lost that day, yet I feel as if I did. I imagine that of the people who were lost, I've passed them on the highway, sat next to one or two on the subway, or perhaps, taught their children
As a NYC Teaching Fellow, I only started teaching the day before, and admired my view from the fourth floor; Queens, the Brooklyn Bridge and a view of downtown including the World trade Center towers.
People were entering my room all morning long. At first it was computer technicians, the rest, I didn't know. I thought they were looking at something technical.
With a roomful of kindergartners, I first noticed the smoke across my windows. I thought that this was odd and when I looked out the window, and thought, "My God, the Twin Towers are on fire!" I thought I'd best take a photo since this seemed extraordinary and when I focused my view finder, I saw the South Tower collapse in front of my eyes. I rubbed them and thought the smoke was playing tricks with my eyes.
At 12:30 when I was scheduled for lunch, the librarian asked if I wanted to have lunch in the library with the other teachers. She said, "We have the television set up." I thought the teachers were watching soap operas during lunch so I thought I'd go out of politeness - just this once.
When I saw my first news report, I didn't get it - planes crashing into the WTC? Did the pilot have a heart attack? Why wasn't the plane ditched in the harbor? I was quickly updated on the situation and fortunately was able to contact my family. I didn't know anyone who was lost that day, yet I feel as if I did. I imagine that of the people who were lost, I've passed them on the highway, sat next to one or two on the subway, or perhaps, taught their children
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Created by Author
yes
Described by Author
no
Date Entered
2003-10-27
Collection
Citation
“story10174.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 1, 2026, https://911.dev.chnm.gmu.edu/items/18126/.