‘I really took it personally’
■ Name: Shannon Santora ■ Occupation: Second-grade teacher, Catoosa County, Ga.
■ How your life is different since 9-11: “At school, I say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. But it never had meaning to me before. Now, it’s a very big deal. The terrorist attack put a new perspective on things. It made it seem that everything of value could be taken away. It made me think about what’s important in life. More than anything, it hurt my feelings. I really took it personally. I’d been in Norway the summer before and thought the world was a happy place where everybody loved each other. It made me realize there are people who don’t like us at all.”
■ Hopes/fears for the future: “When you teach second grade, you’ve got to be hopeful for the future, and I hope for a peaceful one. There will always be problems. But I hope there will be no more of this magnitude.”