It seemed impossible that a full year had gone by, but the calendar doesn't lie. As the first anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approached, a certain anxiety—fueled in part by the media—seemed pervasive. How would the city and the nation deal with the emotional intensity of the day? What kinds of memorial events would be appropriate? Also on peoples' minds, more troubling questions: Was the country particularly vulnerable to further attacks on that day? Would we have to face yet another unthinkable catastrophe?

The day arrived. At Juilliard, as elsewhere, emotions were varied. There was a palpable sadness. Some people expressed anger. Others were more hopeful. Amidst it all, there seemed to be a strong need among many to be part of community, to feel connected. At school, that chance first came at 10:29 a.m., the exact moment that Tower One of the World Trade Center had imploded a year earlier, when several hundred Juilliard students, faculty, and staff members gathered on the plaza for a moment of silence, followed by reflections by three students—Michelle Smith, Sarah Koo, and Mahira Kakkar—whose words appear on Pages 4 and 5. Later that day, people from around the city joined us at Juilliard for two commemorative events: a community sing-along of the Mozart Requiem and an evening of song and poetry called Spring Will Come Again.

Perhaps these events helped us heal, if only a bit, though the wounds suffered by humanity on 9/11 are deep and may leave permanent scars. As Mahira so poignantly expressed: "Sometimes I believe that the only answer is human endeavor, the ability to pick one's face off the floor and carry on..."

— Ira Rosenblum

Mahira Kakkar You may not think I have a right to speak today; I am, after all, a foreigner... This thing that happened, happened to the world—happened to us—happened to me. We all belong to generations marked by terror. More...

Sarah Koo So many people offered so much time and talent... I think it’s important to continue to uphold this kind of beauty because it shows the pureness of what we do here. More...

Michelle Smith Over this past year, I have also learned the true meaning of growth... I have learned to appreciate each day for all it is worth. I have learned to find the positive in all situations no matter how unbearable they may seem initially. More...

Slide Show From 10:29 in the morning until later that evening, Sept. 11, 2002 was a chance to come together, to participate in memorial events, and to reflect and remember. In this slide show are photos of events that took place at Juilliard that day, and thoughts from people who were there. More...