On Friday, seniors at Alonso High School in Tampa, Florida, unsealed a time capsule of 92 letters written by students who sat in the same classrooms when the September 11 attacks occurred 25 years ago. The letters, placed in red, white and blue envelopes, were part of an assignment given by former American‑government teacher Carey DiPompo in the weeks after the tragedy.
Why the letters were written
In September 2001, DiPompo was teaching American government when the news of the attacks broke on one of the school’s two televisions. “I was very afraid. I was very fearful,” she recalled. To help her students process the shock, she asked them to write a letter to future students describing their feelings, experiences, and any newspaper clippings or other visuals they wanted to include.
Opening the sealed envelopes
For a quarter‑century the letters sat untouched. This Friday, senior Kherington Kurella described her mixed emotions before opening them: “I was so excited, but also at the same time, it’s very scary because you don’t know what you’re going to read about.” When the envelopes were finally opened, students read a mix of handwritten notes and typewritten pages, each offering a personal snapshot of life on September 11.
One letter, read aloud by senior Sam Garmendia, recounted a family connection to the World Trade Center and the sense of helplessness felt that day: “I have an aunt that works in the first World Trade Building and three that work in the same area. I was uncomfortable the rest of the day. I felt helpless the whole day.” The writer also reflected on the unity of the American people and the privilege of living in a free nation.
What students took away
Both Kurella and Garmendia said the experience resonated deeply because the voices came from peers their own age. “Just being able to read it from someone who’s close to my age really resonated with me in a different way,” Kurella said.
DiPompo emphasized the lesson beyond historical facts: “The one thing I hope happens today is that kids learn what empathy is. Not sympathy, but empathy. You can teach historical facts to anybody, but that’s not really what history is about. It’s about teaching kids exactly not only what happened, but how did it affect you and others.”
Community significance
The event underscores how local schools can serve as custodians of collective memory, linking generations through shared experience. By hearing the raw emotions of their predecessors, today’s students gain a personal connection to a national tragedy and a reminder of the importance of unity, faith, and family during trying times.
Alonso High School plans to keep the letters on display for future classes, ensuring that the voices of 2001 continue to speak to new generations of Tampa youth.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
