It was just before seven o’clock in the morning. I was preparing for school during my second week of senior year, gathering books and papers into my backpack when my father burst through the front door. This was unusual, as he never came home that early. He rushed into the family room, and I heard the TV turn on. Curiosity got the better of me, so I went to see what was happening. As I rounded the corner, I saw an airplane crashing into the South Tower. My father and I stood speechless. I asked if it was real, and he confirmed that it was. After a moment of silence, he told me to head to school.
I jumped into my car and drove to school. Upon entering the classroom, I saw that the TV was on, and everyone was gathered, watching the news. By then, the Pentagon had been struck. I quietly took my seat and joined my classmates in watching the unfolding events. We watched in horror as the South Tower collapsed, followed by the North Tower twenty minutes later. The TV showed the dust, smoke, debris, and anguished screams. I watched people running in terror and wondered why this was happening, sitting in shock as it all unfolded.
September 11th will mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I must admit that it wasn’t until 12 years later, in 2013, when I became a firefighter with the Mountain Home Fire Department, that I truly understood the significance of that day. Through my work, I learned about the brotherhood of emergency services and the meaning behind the number 343. I saw what bravery, courage, and dedication truly looked like and witnessed the extraordinary capabilities of the human spirit.
As a firefighter and a teacher, I had the opportunity to explore and teach students about 9/11. Through this research, my respect for those involved on that tragic day deepened. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in just 14 hours. Firefighters and police officers, without hesitation, rushed into the buildings, climbing over 100 stories to save strangers from fire and entrapment, unaware that the buildings would soon collapse upon them. Strangers helped each other find safety, comforted one another, and cried together. September 11th, while a day of unimaginable horror, also revealed a side of humanity that seemed forgotten and, sadly, seems to have faded once again.
Twenty-three years later, we are more divided than ever. Whether we blame politics, media, or other factors, the truth is we all have a choice. On September 11th, 2001, there were no divisions—no black or white, male or female, Christian or atheist—just humanity. In that time of tragedy and loss, nothing mattered except our fellow neighbor. It seems we have forgotten what it means to love and support each other. We have lost sight of the importance of selflessness and sacrifice. If we’re not careful, we risk destroying ourselves.
We annually proclaim, “We Will Never Forget!”, but I fear that we already have. We’ve forgotten how to look out for one another, how to help selflessly, and how to make sacrifices for those around us. We’ve lost sight of our equality and the fact that our neighbors are not our enemies. Most of all, we’ve forgotten how to love each other.
On this 23rd anniversary of 9/11, I hope we begin to remember what it means to be unified, to stand together, and to love our neighbors. I urge you to break down walls of pride and embrace humility. Let go of selfishness and embrace selflessness. See your neighbor not as an enemy but as a brother, sister, and friend. Let us remember that we are all in this together and that, when it comes time to run into a “burning building” for our neighbors, we should do so without hesitation, hoping to save lives inside.
As always, stay humble and serve well.
Selfless Leadership Is Purposeful Leadership 