- Mark Kim, J Helo and Mohammad Choundhery (left to right) talk about life after Sept. 11, 2001.Photos:Jose Romero
Many in this generation were marked by tragedy; they can trace their lives back to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
Some students at Pierce relate their life to the tragic events.
“I was in the middle of my military enrollment process while the attacks occurred,” said Mark Kim, 30, who majors in Business administration and was later deployed in Kuwait in January 2003 and participated in the of liberation Iraq.
“It [the terrorist attacks] made me grow up to the world,” said Kim. “My mom worked at the DEA building across the pentagon and watched the plane crash into the building,” he added.
When he arrived in Kuwait, “people welcomed us, since we were in allied country,” said Kim.
“I was ready to kick some butt, and to come back home as winners,” Kim added.
Many were also affected ethnically.
“The world hates on Muslims and Middle Easterns [people], instead of Al-Qaeda,” J Helo, 21, Accounting major.
“I mean when we walk in to class… people then say they’re terrorist and it makes you think I wish I was one, at the time,” said J Helo.
At Pierce, students connect with the past events as well, “I was in 6th grade at the time, and my mom told me about the event and it sound it like a movie,” said Mohammad Choundhery, 19, Music major.