Gen Zs recall first learning of 'deeply harrowing, terrifying' 9/11

""She just started telling me where she was the day it happened, and just broke down in tears, explaining to me about all the firefighters that went in and never came out.""

— Avery Black , Other

""My mother grew up in New York City, so I remember my mom telling me about 9/11 and talking about how someone that lived in her building, who she was friends with, passed away in the towers.""

— Annie Erickson , Other

""For whatever reason at that point, I guess she really didn't want to talk about it.""

— Allegra Tashjian , Other

""I really understood the gravity of it more from reading things on the internet when I was probably between like nine and 12.""

— Allegra Tashjian , Other

""Ten years ago, I thought student interest was ebbing and I would need to find something else to teach...""

— David Schanzer , Academic