11 reflections on 9/11: Eric Peterson, Sophomore

When I think of Sept. 11 the images that stick in my mind are those of the thousands of people who tried their best to make a horrible situation somewhat better. But these people are not just the brave firemen who risked their lives in New York, I found a group of people here in Bloomington that helped make the day that should be my favorite date of the year into something that I will forever cherish.\nSept. 11 was my 19th birthday, a day that should be filled with happiness and gifts, cakes, and whatnot. The day though was forever marred by an unspeakable event that will forever haunt that day.\nHowever, my friends here (that I met only a few weeks earlier) decided to try and put a smile on my face and make a party in the face of danger. My best friend put together the most amazing suprise party I have ever had, a night where we couldn't find an open restaraunt to go to ... the party was instead brought to my front door. \nAs I walked into the dorm of one of my other friends, I was led into the lounge where a giant "SURPRISE!" was yelled from behind couches and chairs. For those two hours we had the party that night, we were able to turn the anger and confusion of the day's events into a night filled with friendship and love ... the same two things that helped lead our nation out of the turmoil of that now-storied day.