Six years ago today an event so huge shook the United States that many will never forget where they were.

For some ISU students, it certainly is a big day, but not because of the tragedy of Sept. 11.

Steven Sulhoff, senior in aerospace engineering, turned 16 the day terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and one into a field in Pennsylvania.

“I got to school early that day and went to the lunchroom where we all hung out before school,” Sulhoff said.

“The TV was on and my friend told me that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers.”

Sulhoff said he sat with his classmates and watched as the second plane hit the second tower. He said he originally thought the planes were small, like a Cessna.

“This is something that is very real to all of us. This is our generation’s Pearl Harbor or JFK assassination. That day didn’t change my birthday celebration, although no one wished me a happy birthday but my mom,” Sulhoff said. “Now when someone asks me, their response is ‘Oh, that’s your birthday?'”

John Crouthamel, senior in pre-business, turned 17 that day and remembers it clearly.

“It happened between first and second period, so it was a big shock,” Crouthamel said. “I was walking into Spanish class, where I was expecting to be sung ‘Happy Birthday’ in Spanish and the teacher had the TV on,” Crouthamel said.

Crouthamel said those events really had no effect on his birthday because he doesn’t feel a personal connection to the events of Sept. 11.

“It really hasn’t changed my birthday at all. My family and friends weren’t directly involved, so I felt and still feel disconnected from it,” he said.

Crouthamel said he doesn’t view his birthday any differently, although it was a terrible tragedy. His birthday still holds the same feeling it always has for him – a happy one.