I remember.

It's been five years since that dreadful day in September, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was on the verge of my 17th birthday, and life just seemed so simple. I will never forget the feeling of unity as the students of my high school came together as our nation went under attack. In high school, there are so many cliques, and labels, but as we stood in shock, while watching the towers fall, that didn't matter anymore. I embraced so many people that day, people I had never talked to, but came to know as the year went by. As tragic as 9/11 is, I am thankful for the friendships that it helped bring together. It's sad that it takes such an event do so, but never the less, it happened.

I will never forget how my teacher Coach Smith handled the news. His first thoughts were of his daughter, who worked there in the city across the street from the World Trade Center. He was mortified, and rightfully so. I don't know what made him check his email that day, but he did. And I remember the tears that fell down his face, as he read that his "baby girl" was okay. She knew her daddy would be worried, so her first instinct was to send him an email and let him know that she was okay. Several emails back and forth, she finally ended with "Daddy I love you. They're making me leave. I'll call you when I can."

He shared with us on the first anniversary of that horrible day, the emails that they wrote back and forth to one another. One mentioned how she witnessed the second plane hit, and how scared she was, and his words of love and comfort in another. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

So as each year passes, and we remember that day, I'm thankful for my life. Sad for all the men and woman who's lives were lost and for those who lost someone so precious to them. And more than anything, five years later, I'm grateful to be here, even if I'm just taking up space.