The second Tuesday of the school year marked the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Numerous memorial events were held across the country. President Barack Obama gave a commemorating speech from the White House South Lawn. In New York, crowds of people gathered around the site of the World Trade Center attacks in memory of the victims. At McLean High School, there was a moment of silence.

September 11th has become ingrained in the minds of this generation much the same way Pearl Harbor and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy were in the minds of generations past. Anyone who was old enough to understand what had happened on that somber day in 2001 can recall exactly what they did that day; where they were when they heard the news.

September 11th, 2001 started like any other Tuesday at McLean High School. Tired students racing through the halls; trying to stay awake through early morning classes; teachers trying to get through material – business as usual. The calm of the day was shattered by the terrorist attacks.

“A student went to the bathroom and came back saying ‘hey the World Trade Center is on fire’,” Government teacher Ian Howell said, “we turned on the tv and saw the second plane go into the tower.”

News rapidly spread throughout the school, and teachers turned on their tvs to follow the events.

“Ms. Bott (Spanish teacher) came over and said ‘you need to turn on the tv.’ We turned it on and saw replays of the first plane, then the second plane hit,” Spanish teacher Linda Schultz said.

Despite everyone’s shock and confusion, the day continued as normal as possible at McLean. Students went to all their classes just like any other day. Parents were allowed to pick their children up from school, and many did so, creating a huge traffic jam around the school.

Teachers all handled the chaotic day differently. Some opted to put lesson plans on hold and watch the news broadcasts. Others, taken aback by the horrifying sites, tried their best to continue with their lesson plans.

“We had a very quiet lesson that day,” Schultz said.