September 11, 2001

I was a freshmen at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT on that day that changed America. I was living in Helaman Halls and had just made the walk up the hill pass the Cannon Center up towards the Marriott business school. I noticed a crowd of students gathered around a TV hanging in the lobby. I glanced over and saw what looked like a building on fire and huge clouds of smoke. Not wanting to be late to class (because having an 8am class my first semester of college was not smart), I kept walking to class. I continued to walk noticing people around me were emotional. My first class that morning was Book of Mormon with Rex Reeve. As I sat there with everyone in the class talking about what was going on in NYC we were all shocked. We started class that day the same way we did every session--with a prayer. It was that prayer that made me knew I was right where I wanted to be in that moment. We talked about having faith not fear, and read scriptures to help comfort us. I'm pretty sure class was officially cancelled, but no one wanted to leave that room that was giving us solace.

It was a Tuesday, which at BYU meant devotional. I remember being packed into the Marriott Center to hear the President of BYU, Merrill J. Batemen give this message. It was a message of hope and peace. It was short, powerful, and a message for all the world not just us BYU students. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

I really don't remember too much else about that day except for calling family, watching the television, and thinking how could this have happened. My freshmen year roommate, Jesicah, had family that lived in NYC. I remember seeing how upset she was and not knowing what to say to her or how to comfort her. It just didn't seem real. It really is hard to imagine that it has been 10 years since the terrorist attacks on our country. I've been glued to the TV watching the memorials, hearing the stories, and being grateful for a country where our freedom equals courage when it mattered the most. Truly, I'm proud to be an American.