Chelsea Savage, 20
I remember 9/11 more clearly than probably any other day. I was running late for school in the 5th grade. My mom walked me to the class room, only to find my teacher bawling outside the door. For the rest of the day we were all glued on CNN. It was devastating and that one event caused my outlook on humankind to fall dramatically. It was also years before I was able to get on a plane without a full-blown panic attack.
I couldn't believe it when I saw the news about bin Laden on Facebook. I cried watching President Obama's speech. However happy I feel, it's also countered with fear. I am way too nervous that people are being over the top and celebrating far too openly. Yes, it was a great achievement, but people need to remember that Osama bin Laden still has hundreds of followers that will probably try and retaliate, and to be honest that scares the crap out of me because now it'll be my generation that that to fight and lose their lives against them.
I have grown up living during this war, and it has taken a toll on everyone's hopes and beliefs. I think it has caused my generation to have a much lower outlook on life. All I hope is that it can end as soon as possible.
Savage is a sophomore at the University of Washington studying art history. She was 10 years old on 9/11.