I interviewed a current Emory student, Tyler Debbie, who was five years old on 9/11 and was entering his first day of Kindergarten like many other children on that day. Tyler does remember many events from 9/11 and has a unique experience from that day. I asked Tyler a few questions about his experiences on the day of 9/11 and the years after it.
Where were you and what were you doing on 9/11?
From what I remember from 9/11, I was in AM Kindergarten and it was my first day of Kindergarten. I was actually supposed to go to the city that day to visit the World Trade Centers. My mom and I were going to celebrate my start of school by going to my favorite place in the city. Thank god I didn't (visit the World Trade Centers) because my Kindergarten teacher told my mom that it was pretty important for me to be there for my first day of Kindergarten, so we made the decision to go to the city after AM Kindergarten. When 9/11 happened I was just finishing up my morning session Kindergarten, and once I got let out of school was when everything was going on; I believe the 2nd tower fell as my mom was picking me up.
Do you remember how you were feeling that day and did you understand what was going on?
I don't really remember a ton about 9/11, but I just remember a whole bunch of adults freaking out and crying around me; I didn't really understand what was going on. From what I remember, I was just confused and looking for answers. My mom has always been pretty honest with me, so she pretty much told me what happened right when I got home. That's when I really began to grasp the magnitude of what was going on. There was a good hour though when I was just so confused by the parents and older kids crying and going crazy at my school.
How would you say 9/11 has affected you after the fact?
9/11 probably hasn't affected me that much: like I can't say that it affected my family situation or anything like that to the degree that it affected other people's families, which I really do feel bad for. I would just say that looking back it feels pretty good to be in AM Kindergarten and not go to the city that day. That's the only thing I can really say about how it affected me because I know how destructive it was for some other families. The emotional sadness I felt and still feel about 9/11 is nothing compared to the sorrow and hurt many others feel from 9/11.
Would you ever work in the new World Trade Center (One World Trade Center)?
Yeah absolutely, I think security measures have increased and I would feel fine working there. I think working in the new World Trade Center has just as much danger as working in The White House or working in any other government building. I don't think there's any imminent danger in working in the World Trade Center because it would literally be the same thing as working in any tall building. Any tall building is susceptible to an attack; not even any tall building but anywhere you work could get hit by a terrorist attack at any time. That's the realization that we really need to come to see. I don't think there's anymore danger in something that has been attacked before than something that has never been attacked.
What do you think of when you look at the World Trade Center site?
Well obviously I do think of the tragedy that happened there, but I also see an opportunity for revival. We should never forget the men and women who lost their lives on 9/11, but we should rebuild and attempt to bring happiness to lower Manhattan. The new buildings at the World Trade Center site are very nice and should be very good opportunities for the community to get past 9/11. If we had just left the area barren and destroyed, it would've been just a reminder of death all the time and it would halt the Lower Manhattan community from ever thriving.
Where were you and what were you doing on 9/11?
From what I remember from 9/11, I was in AM Kindergarten and it was my first day of Kindergarten. I was actually supposed to go to the city that day to visit the World Trade Centers. My mom and I were going to celebrate my start of school by going to my favorite place in the city. Thank god I didn't (visit the World Trade Centers) because my Kindergarten teacher told my mom that it was pretty important for me to be there for my first day of Kindergarten, so we made the decision to go to the city after AM Kindergarten. When 9/11 happened I was just finishing up my morning session Kindergarten, and once I got let out of school was when everything was going on; I believe the 2nd tower fell as my mom was picking me up.
Do you remember how you were feeling that day and did you understand what was going on?
I don't really remember a ton about 9/11, but I just remember a whole bunch of adults freaking out and crying around me; I didn't really understand what was going on. From what I remember, I was just confused and looking for answers. My mom has always been pretty honest with me, so she pretty much told me what happened right when I got home. That's when I really began to grasp the magnitude of what was going on. There was a good hour though when I was just so confused by the parents and older kids crying and going crazy at my school.
How would you say 9/11 has affected you after the fact?
9/11 probably hasn't affected me that much: like I can't say that it affected my family situation or anything like that to the degree that it affected other people's families, which I really do feel bad for. I would just say that looking back it feels pretty good to be in AM Kindergarten and not go to the city that day. That's the only thing I can really say about how it affected me because I know how destructive it was for some other families. The emotional sadness I felt and still feel about 9/11 is nothing compared to the sorrow and hurt many others feel from 9/11.
Would you ever work in the new World Trade Center (One World Trade Center)?
Yeah absolutely, I think security measures have increased and I would feel fine working there. I think working in the new World Trade Center has just as much danger as working in The White House or working in any other government building. I don't think there's any imminent danger in working in the World Trade Center because it would literally be the same thing as working in any tall building. Any tall building is susceptible to an attack; not even any tall building but anywhere you work could get hit by a terrorist attack at any time. That's the realization that we really need to come to see. I don't think there's anymore danger in something that has been attacked before than something that has never been attacked.
What do you think of when you look at the World Trade Center site?
Well obviously I do think of the tragedy that happened there, but I also see an opportunity for revival. We should never forget the men and women who lost their lives on 9/11, but we should rebuild and attempt to bring happiness to lower Manhattan. The new buildings at the World Trade Center site are very nice and should be very good opportunities for the community to get past 9/11. If we had just left the area barren and destroyed, it would've been just a reminder of death all the time and it would halt the Lower Manhattan community from ever thriving.