Carly Poppalardo Remembers 9/11

Every Friday, the editors of the Ballston-Virginia Square Patch and the Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslyn Patch will be talking to Arlingtonians about what they remember, what they experienced and what this 10-year milestone means to them.

North Arlington resident is a local professional organizer who was a freshman at Bishop O'Connell High School in September 2001. It was her first year at a Catholic school and her first year as a high school student. Looking back, she remembers Sept. 11, 2001 as the defining moment in her young adult life.

The first thing I remember - I was literally only a couple weeks into my freshman year - and I was in first period gym class. We were coming back in from outside and I remember we came into the locker room to change and our principal was on the loudspeaker and they were saying the rosary. I thought in my head, "Typical, of course, what’s going on now?" It was such a big change from going to public school all my life and I just thought, "They’re praying again, cool."

Poppalardo remembers changing periods and being ushered into an 11th grade classroom across the hall from where her typical second period class met.

We went across the hall and lots of people were freaking out and crying and I didn’t understand why people were reacting so crazy. I just remember getting into the classroom and everyone was all freaked out. They turned on the TV and I didn’t realize the magnitude. I thought a plane accidentally went into a building and it’s on TV and we’re going to watch it.

She was excused from school early and was driven home by the father of a classmate.

I pull up to my driveway and my mom comes out the house and is crying and hugs me and that’s when I realized that this was a more serious situation...I was thinking about 13 year old girl stuff. I was in high school for the first time... My house is five minutes from the Pentagon. It made it more scary. It made it seems like it was a big deal.

I think this is the most defining thing for our country in a long time. Not since Pearl Harbor, have we had a major attack on our country. In my opinion, I think it’s the most defining moment in our culture in a long time.

If you are interested in contributing to the "Remembering 9/11" conversation in the coming weeks and months, email us at lauren.sausser@patch.com or abigail@patch.com. We look forward to hearing and sharing your stories.