Ten years later, the Sept. 11, 2011 attacks stand as one of the most devastating attacks to take place on American soil, as well as an event that shocked the entire country.

While many students were young and far from the damage that took place that day, some were closer, physically, to the chaos.

Kate Grusenski, an adult and higher education graduate student, attended high school in New Jersey that Tuesday morning. Many of her classmates had parents who worked at the Twin Towers.

“The first thing I remember is an announcement over the loud speaker for any students whose parents worked in the Trade Center,” Grusenski said. “I remember that they made announcements and throughout the day parents took students out of school, since the trains were shut down.”

Grusenski said when she returned home that day and learned what had happened, she was worried about her father, who was a firefighter.

“I couldn’t contact him all day and was worried that he had been called in, but he hadn’t,” Grusenski said. “It was the scariest day of my life.”

Though not everyone has as personal a story as Grusenski, some students still remember the day’s events.

Freshman psychology major Reginald Bates said he still remembers his shock when he heard the news. He was in third grade.

“The teacher was in the middle of a lesson and an office lady came in saying I had early dismissal; I didn’t know what was going on,” Bates said. “My mom came and told me what was happening. I was just shocked and my mom helped me to get over it.”

Jon Gorecki, sophomore electrical engineering major, was in fourth grade when it happened and said he still remembers how he spent his time at school.

“I remember going to school,” Gorecki said. “The teacher made the announcement about the attacks and all we did that day was watch the news.”