As I reflect back on Sept. 11, 2001, it amazes me the surprise that met us on that day. Looking back from a time where we assume everything is a terrorist plot, it is hard to remember the world before that terrifying genie came out of the bottle.
I rushed around the house telling my roommates to come downstairs and see this…unaware of what "this" really was. Undoubtedly a tragedy, we assumed we were witnessing a terrible accident or fluke. As we sat unkempt and half awake, bleary eyes glued to the television, we witnessed the second plane crash. There we all sat, staring, clueless as to how to react. As we all became aware of what was really happening, we had to find a way to let go of the world that our parents left us where these things happened somewhere else and figure out how do to deal with this new reality.
I still vividly remember sitting in an evening class with Dr. Weiss in College Hall in the days following, discussing how 9/11 would change the trajectory of both history and our individual lives. What still sticks with me is the sense that we were all confused and making our way through uncharted territory together, everyone looking to those around them for some answer which no one seemed to have.
After 10 years to reflect, I have found a few important takeaways from that day. Rarely do any of us know the whole story, so be kind to one another just in case. The world changes fast, and not always for the better; let the grace with which you deal with the tragedy in your life define you rather than the tragedies themselves. And, while I am proud to be an American and always will be, more paramount is the fact that I am a human being and a child of God.
Patrick J Keddie
patrick@keddiechevrolet.com
Graduate
McAnulty College of Liberal Arts, 2002
is a member of the 
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