Destiny BurnettNovember 8th, 2024
To the past generation, 9/11 caused mental and family issues that still impact them today. On September 11th, 2001 two people hijacked two planes and crashed them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.
The new generation, the Gen Z, wasn’t alive during the 9/11 event so it didn’t impact them as badly as the past generation. So what was Gen Z’s 9/11?
Philadelphia students all have different traumas and events. Natyah Peterkin a 10th grader at G.W. Carver Engineering and Science says her 9/11 may be the time she was forced into lockdown at school.
“We had to stay there for almost two hours," Natyah said. "We couldn’t leave when we were already in the building because the school didn’t want to be responsible for me and my family getting shot”
At the time Peterkin didn’t understand what was going on and how serious it was but now years later she is very thankful that she lived. Philadelphia schools have a total of 75 lockdowns in a year.
“This day has impacted me to this day and forever will impact me in the future.’’ said Perterkin
9/11 caused people to be shocked at the time of the tragic event, it caused many people to be in fear and have them confused. The new generation also experienced many mental issues when they were experiencing their 9/11. Ava Woods, a 9th-grade student at G.W Carver Engineering & Science had heard many gunshots outside her home.
“I felt confused and scared because I didn’t know what was happening, and nobody was answering me and saying what was going on.” said Woods
Like during the 9/11 people didn't understand what was going on jut like Woods. When you experience a new day in your life, you have no idea that that day is going to impact you for the rest of your life. You start your day off like any day and pray for the best day. You don’t expect your day to become the worst day. Both Peterkin and Woods's day went from normal to one of the most life-changing days.
“I was on my way to school with my mom and my sister,” Peterkin says.
“Me and my family was sitting in the living room together.” Woods said.
During 9/11 many people lost their loved ones. There were a total of 2,977 people who died from the 9/11 incidents. People who weren’t on the plane that day still have a bad 9/11 because they never got to see their loved ones again due to a tragic event. Philadelphia students also experienced bad losses from their loved ones due to a tragic event. Casey Russ, a 10th-grade student at Mastery Charter Pickett Campus Had experienced the death of her beloved friend who passed away in a car crash. Casey is still suffering from the death of her friend just as bad as others do there family’s who died during 9/11/2001.
“ I felt like I had lost it all, my brother, my best friend, and my therapist. I felt like all that was gone," Russ said. "I’ve learned at the moment that death isn’t easy & will never be and also that you never know when it’s someone’s time to go.”
9/11 became a day everybody will remember for the rest of their lives. Whether it was the past generation or the new, everybody had a very impactful day that they take with them every time they take a step into the future. 23 years later there are still 127,567 people recovering from 9/11. Russ and Peterkin all talk about how their father will be impacted.
”I will carry this day forever” said Russ. “I now know how to react and realize situations can be a lot more serious than what they seem.” said Russ.
Many kids in Philadelphia PA have experienced tragic events that all are somewhat similar, many students talk about how Philadelphia schools were forced into lockdown and had to protect them.
"Philadelphia need a change" said Russ.
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