• s Echoes of ~ro~s~ttacks resurface on campus Heads were bowed and hands were clasped in prayer as studems all Senior Jessica Berry who attended a large public high school in over campus prayed for those affected by the attacks ('n Sept. 11, Duncanville, Texas, said she understood what her school was trying to 2001. Even a&er five years had passed, students still hung flags in accomplish by keeping the students uninformed because she did not their windows and ancncieci memorial devotionals for those lost grasp the complexity ofwhat was happening. She said she refrained from in the attacks. asking any questions bur knows now th~t it was all for the best that they For many students, news of the attacks were heard while sitting in continued their lives at school as normally as possible. class at high schooL Many students agreed, whether they continued with class or watched "1 didn't believe it when my friend told me," junior Jillian Shackelford the news non-stop all day, they knew the country was going to change said. "1 honestly thought she was kidding. It wasn't until I went into forever because of the attacks. the library and saw everyone crowded around the TV that I realized what ''I'm definitely feeling the effects now," Berry said in regard to the had really happened." financial burdens the attacks put on the funds provided for schools. Senior Alex Cone said he believed it, but was not able to find out all Shackelfo rd expressed her pride for her country as Americans joined of the information available to the public. together to face the reality that so quickly attacked them. "The teachers in my school were told not to let us watch TVs or get "There was a definite sense of unity that developed in (he first few online," Cone said. "It just added to the confusion and concern I felt at weeks after the attacks," Shackelford said. "We all put on a unified the time." face as one country. We were all affected by this, not just one specific There were several schools that tried to keep students from having people." complete access to the news. Senior Rachel Hatfield said she thought it Though no one could truly say what rhe country would be like frightened her even more when her school practiced the same method had the attacks never happened; it was believed by many that the country to keep rhe students calm. made a 180-degree turn at that point and would never be the same. Five "The anxiety of not knowing what was happening in our country, years later, students on campus still prayed for the families and friends even if we were safe or not, was only heightened by the fact that we were of those affected and would for years to come. not allowed to watch the news," Hatfield said. -J. Cliff Ganus and Natalie Lollis While visiting New York City, freshman Kayla Anderson looks up to snap a photograph of the twin towers in March of 2000. "The thing that impacted me was the overall tragedy of it because it was so sudden," freshman Zac Santos said. -Courtesy of Kayla Anderson seniors 57
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