On that morning I was in my second week of Basic Military Training on a bus heading out to the field for combat training exercises. The bus was pulled over and we were all told the news. I was in a complete stage of disbelief at first, thinking it was only part of the exercise that we were about to undergo. However once the bus was turned around and we saw the faces of our drill instructors, we knew something was terribly wrong. For the rest of the day we sat in a room on lock down and tuned in to the news like most others across the world did. At the time, I was just an 18-year-old boy from Indiana who joined the Air Force so I could serve my country and one day attend college. Ten years later to the day, here I am about to fulfill the second part of that dream. I start UCLA in less than two weeks, and while it may have taken me some time to get here, it makes it all the more worth it.

Tyler Stegemoller, first-year geography/environmental studies student

On the morning of Sept. 11, I was scheduled to visit UCLA for the first time and attend a financial aid meeting. I woke up to family members yelling that a plane had hit a building in New York. I had been so excited about seeing the campus, but now most of my memories about that day include the quiet and eerily empty freeway drive over to campus. The speaker at the meeting shared with us that she was very worried about family and friends, who lived in New York City. It was a very somber experience and the fear I felt being away from home was something incredibly new for me.

Edith Padilla, 2005 UCLA alumna

@dailybruin #dbsept11: sitting in class in 4th grade in (New York). Under our desks, lights off, curtain closed. Had no idea what was happening
Harris Tucker, second-year political science and economy student

#dbsept11 I was in the 3rd grade getting ready for school as my mom was frozen watching the news
Ashley Pulido, 2011 UCLA alumna

@dailybruin Rieber dorm (with) golf teammates #dbsept11
John Poucher, 2006 UCLA alumnus

@dailybruin I was in my third grade class and had no idea what had happened or what was going on. (Now) I look back and it’s so sad. #dbsept11
Omar Valencia, first-year physiological science student

@dailybruin 8th grade – we thought pilot accidentally/stupidly ran into building. Learned words “terrorism,” “Bin Laden” same day #dbsept11
Elizabeth Shirey, first-year law student