They spent Saturday at parks, in malls, on Facebook and in parties. However when they woke up this morning, their psyche's shifted.
Statuses about adolescent fun and nonsensical things going on in their lives shift to a group conversation about where they were on that day when the sky was 'Severe Blue' and the world would change forever.
Some Facebook statuses, from those who went to school just blocks away from the World Trade Center are short and direct as if to fend off the painful reality of what happened that day. A high school senior who went to P.S. 234 which was the elementary school which saw the towers collapse and was part of the evaucation that day wrote "never forget."
But for some, just into college their messages of remembrance are personal and anecdotal.
"Can't believe its been 10 years and wishing I was home on a day like today ♥ let's never forget what happened that day and what the WTC stood and always will stand for."
The organization Do Something, which mobilizes and gives teens the power to take action created a forum online to give them the ability to thank first responders who gave their lives to save others.
"Just wanted to express my deepest thanks to the emergency service workers out there! Thanks for caring about others enough to focus your lives on learning and succeeding to protect people in need. I am personally saying thank you because you have in one way or another help to save my life and the lives of many of my loved ones. So thank you. Genuinely!," a girl named Crysta from East New York wrote.
9/11 is a day of remembrance first but secondly a day to come together. For this generation, the future of this country, this day will forever have a special place in their hearts.
So whenever the cynics say teens are lazy, apathetic and just plain unmotivated. Look to today and the fact that even if they're not giving back with their hands, their words are providing solace to the families and souls of all those who perished on that fateful day.
I'd be remise if I didn't share where I was that day. I was a third grade student in Ms. White-Michaelson's class.
As she puts it on her Facebook, "10 years ago I, on this date, I was teaching a geometry lesson in the Bronx, while my mother watched the aweful event from a classroom window in her school in Brooklyn, and my family (and yours) were saying there prayers!"
I had traveled to the nurses office and the horrible sounds I heard on 1010 WINS will forever replay in my head.
The anchor said a large aircraft has flown into the World Trade Center, I was immediately horrified because just days before my family had been shopping in the area and I marveled about how cool the building looked.
Sadly, I'd never see that building I marveled at standing again, I will never forget.