by Cris Italia
Just as in the assassination of John F. Kennedy or the bombing of Pearl Harbor, everyone will remember where they were when they first heard of the attacks on the World Trade Center. For Oceanside Middle School students, their first contact with attacks came over the school's PA system.
It was confusing at first, and I never really realized what was going on until I saw it first hand, said 8th grader Lauren Goldberg.
We were sitting in class, explains Jessica Zucker. It was Orchestra and I just remember being really scared. Is this a terrorist attack ? Are they bombing our country?
Zucker admits that before the Sept. 11 she didn't know anything about terrorism. Until now I just didn't know how terrorism worked or who terrorists were, said Zucker who's father is a New York City Police officer.
Through the day, Zucker received updates on the attacks. Knowing full well that her father was among the many assisting his fellow officers and firefighters in downtown Manhattan. It was so scary, because the whole day you just didn't know where anyone was, Zucker said. Later that afternoon Zucker was informed that her father was safe and would be home soon.
We decided not to turn on the T.V.'s, said Nancy Morris, a teacher at the Middle School. It was just too much to take even for us, but we set up a support staff for anyone who needed it.
Morris admits at times during the tragic day that she found it hard to maintain composure. You try and keep the day going, but at the same time you know what's really going on. Do you explain to your class what's happening or do you choose to continue with your lesson, Morris questioned.
Not only did students have to deal with the notion that their country was under attack, but some teachers began losing their composure. It was difficult, some students and our teachers had loved ones in those buildings or in that area, said Ben Steinberg. Some of the teachers ran into the halls, and some teachers left, because they just wanted to be with their families.
Teachers were crying, but we couldn't fault them for that, we just wanted to do something, said Alex Mednick, remembering his teacher's reaction.
Teachers were briefed at lunch time, but by then the shock and horror of the day was just beginning to sink in. All the teachers were just in shock, Farrell said. You just knew it was bad by their reaction. There was screaming in the hallways and there was a lot going on in the lobby.
Throughout the day students were allowed to make phone calls to their family, some were taken home by their parents. Still, others remained waiting for the final bell so they could go home and witness the aftermath.
I was curious more than anything else. I mean by the time I went home I was just anxious to see how bad it really was, said eighth grader, Kelly Farrell.
Torri Dantono's father was working in the World Trade Center that day, but he called immediately after leaving. I was picked up from school at about 10:00 a.m. and we heard from my father shortly after, but my uncles all worked downtown and we didn't know where they were, Dantono said. The whole time I guess I was just hoping for the best and I really didn't want to realize that he could be hurt.
How has the world changed ?
I don't take life for granted anymore that's for sure, Mednick said. Since the attacks I take things a lot more seriously and I don't want to mess up.
Morris agrees that most students changed their work ethic. With [Alex Mednick] it's been a complete 180, he has worked so hard all year, and most of the students are actually working harder, because of what happened.
Other students felt that working in a tall building would never happen for them. I don't see myself ever working or stepping foot in a tall building, it's just the way I feel, Farrell said.
While some students feel they will never be able to work in a skyscraper, some have a similar feelings on air travel. The night it happened I could not sleep. I heard fighter jets just flying through the sky and that scared me, and it still does to this day, Lauren Goldberg explained. Even now whenever I see or hear a low flying plane I sort of lose it a little.
I think we have to be more cautious now, said Farrell. We have to deal with what comes and expect that more stuff is going to happen, I'm expecting another attack.
It's kind of upsetting, said Patrick Hassett. I think about it everyday. . . What are we supposed to do just wait until it happens again. That's just to hard to accept.
Getting through the tragedy
With school year just beginning, teachers and staff were faced with the daunting task of getting back to normalcy. We would see each kid at least once a week, said guidance counselor, Bob Helmrich. The goal was to help kids discuss their feelings one-on-one or in groups. A lot of kids were willing to express what they were going through.
In over ten years working with kids, he says nothing could have prepared him or his associates for this. This was catastrophic, nothing prepared us for this . . . There was no training that taught us to deal with such a tragedy.
On Sept. 11 Helmrich tried to get through the day, despite knowing his nephew and fianc
