BUFFALO, N.Y. — Most people remember exactly where they were when they first heard the news on September 11, 2001.

I was in second period Spanish class at Nardin Academy when the first plane hit. I was a freshman in high school. By my third period religion class, we learned another plane had crashed into the second tower and a third plane into the Pentagon.

The emotions were everywhere: People were sad. People were scared. Some didn't believe it was happening. And then the speculation started. There was worry about an attack on the power grid in Niagara Falls. Our classes went on as scheduled, but we didn't leave the building. The news trickled in throughout the day.

By my seventh period biology class, we knew this was something bigger that would change our lives forever. Our teacher wheeled a television into class and we were glued to screen as we watched the news and terrible images. 

When I went home from school, I had an overwhelming sadness and horror as my parents, little brother and I watched the news all night. The most surreal part of the day for me was I was on top of the World Trade Center Observation Deck two weeks prior. The film in my camera still hadn't been developed. I remember how peaceful it felt up there. It was quiet, and you could smell the honey roasted peanuts below. 

I went back to my high school Tuesday to see what's changed in those 17 years and how something I lived through has become a history lesson. Many of the high school students sitting here today weren't even alive when the twin towers fell. That's why many teachers at Nardin in Buffalo assigned students research projects on the terror attacks.

U.S. history teacher Stephanie O'Donnell said, "I would want my students to know and have an appreciation for not only the loss and the tragedy of that day, but also the way the country was brought together."

To start the day, every teacher took time out of their usual routines to reflect.

"I think it's important because it changed a lot of the way we do things, with security and travel and things like that, and it's important to remember because so many lives were lost," said ninth grader Ava Steiner.

Senior Ateo Ayiy carries a personal story about September 11, 2001 everywhere she goes: "My birthday is 9/11/2001. My mom told me she was in the hospital and she had me. The doctor's like ' Oh my gosh,' and they turned on the TV and it was just the towers coming down. I would wake up and it's my birthday, but it's also people mourning the loss of people who died in the 9/11 tragedies."

Ateo may be the only student who can say exactly where she was, but all the students we spoke with say the lessons learned about this day will stick with them forever.

"I'm taking away learning empathy and sympathy and not like everything can always be about you all the time," she said.

Iris Styers added, "People can do terrible things, but you have to rebuild after it and become stronger."