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My Birth
I was born on September 10, 2001 in New York City -
9/11
Terrorists attacked the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon In Washington, DC. Almost 3,000 people lost their lives that day. This event launched a war with Iraq. (https://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/37) -
The Patriot Act is Passed
This act was passed quickly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in retaliation. The Patriot Act enabled the government to keep surveillance on American citizens. It was enabled to better fight terrorism. However, many Americans felt it was unconstitutional and invaded their privacy. -
President Bush signs the No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act was a law that was put in place to make sure that American students were getting a proper education. This law put emphasis on standardized test scores as a way to gauge how well students were absorbing the knowledge given to them in public schools. The act was given bipartisan support out of concern that the American education system was slipping in international competition. -
U.S. invades Iraq
The U.S. invaded Iraq after the Iraqi government failed to meet the deadline set by the U.S. for Sadam Hussein to leave Iraq. The U.S. joined forces with the United Kingdom to put the invasion in motion. It was believed that Sadam Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction. This war was a mostly a manhunt and ended in less than two months after they found Hussein outside of his hometown in Tikrit. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/war-in-iraq-begins) -
My brother was born
On this day, my younger brother, Alex, was born. He was born in New York City. -
Move to Abington
About a year after my brother was born, we moved from New York City to Abington. My parents wanted me and my brother to be able to get a good education at a public school. -
President Bush is Reelected Into a Second Term of Presidency
When President Bush was reelected to office, many people were unhappy. Despite his wasting resources on a war against Iraq, enough people still believed that he could turn it around and salvage everything good for the U.S. He promised things like making Medicare more beneficial for seniors and giving more funding for public schools. -
Hurricane Katrina
Katrina was the U.S.'s costliest hurricane ever. It resulted in $108 billion in damage and 1,836 lives lost. It caused the most damage in the coastal regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and caused extreme flooding. Because of its size, it also affected states all the way up the Atlantic Coast. -
Nancy Pelosi becomes a speaker of the US House of Representatives
This was a very important appointment because Pelosi became the first woman to become a speaker. She broke down the political barriers that were against women. There is still a stigma against women in politics, but accomplishments like these help break that down. (Gale database) -
The Great Recession
This was a housing crash that caused widespread economic distress. It was the biggest economic disaster since the Great Depression. 6.1% of jobs were lost and many were left homeless or in poverty. (http://stateofworkingamerica.org/great-recession/) -
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is Passed
This act was put in place as part of the solution to the recession of 2008. It aimed to create jobs and restore the American economy. It was the first legislation of its kind, but it paved the road for economic recovery in the U.S. (https://www.whitehouse.gov/recovery/about) -
My First Horseback Riding Lesson
As a birthday present, my parents agreed to let me take a horseback riding lesson. I had begged them for years to let me try it and they finally gave in. My babysitter at the time rode horses and she made me want to try it. Right away, I fell in love with the sport, and I have been doing it ever since. -
Obamacare is Instated
This act gave healthcare to many people who couldn't afford it. The healthcare issue had been one that had plagued the U.S. for years. With this act, you could get free or inexpensive healthcare if you met basic qualifications. (http://obamacarefacts.com/affordablecareact-summary/) -
Move to Canada
Me and my family moved to Canada for a year when my dad got a job there. We moved to Victoria, B.C. and started at a new school. It was hard to adjust to life in a different country and a new school. Eventually, we moved back to Abington because the schools weren't very good where we were. But the experience taught be about adaptation and new cultures. -
Osama Bin Laden is Killed
After a long winded manhunt, Osama Bin Laden was finally found and killed. He was accused of being responsible for planning and helping carry out the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was found at a compound in Pakistan and cornered and killed. (http://www.history.com/topics/osama-bin-laden) -
We Got My Dog, Lucy
My dog, Lucy, is a very sweet yellow lab. She is such a huge part of my daily life. We always play and she is such a silly, fun dog to have. -
Hurricane Sandy
This storm was one of the biggest hurricanes since Katrina. It is credited with causing 147 deaths and hit everywhere up the east coast of the North America. It caused everything to shut down for days until the extensive damage could be fixed. (http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/world/americas/hurricane-sandy-fast-facts/) -
My Great-Grandmother Passed Away
My great-grandmother and I were very close. She was 94 when she passed away. She taught me so many invaluable life lessons and she was very important to me. -
Perfect Score
In 7th grade, I got a perfect score on my math PSSA. I am extremely proud of that accomplishment. It is very hard to achieve and I take tremendous pride in knowing that I did it. -
Boston Marathon Bombing
In the early afternoon on this day, marathon runners were about to cross the finish line when two bombs went off in the crowd of spectators. Three people were killed and more than 260 people were injured. The bombers were brothers who were born in the former Soviet state of Kyrgyzstan, but had lived in the U.S. since a young age. They were inspired by their radical Islamic beliefs, but they did not act as a part of a terrorist organization. This made terrorism more of a realistic threat to all. -
Gay Marriage is Legalized
In a Supreme Court decision, all states were forced to legalize gay marriage. This was a major step in ending any and all prejudices against gay people, and all other groups. This ended the long history of gays and lesbians be wrongfully persecuted and punished. (http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/) -
Trip to London
Me and my family went on a vacation to London and around the city. We learned so much about the culture and the day to day life of English people. I really loved the sights and the city. -
Trip to Maine
This summer we went to Maine. We did so many outdoor activities, and explored so much of Mount Desert Island. My favorite thing we did was a hike called the Precipice. It is basically climbing up a cliff that has ladder rungs drilled into the side of the mountain. It was really amazing to know that I could climb a cliff successfully. -
Obama is Elected into Office
This day marked a historic and very important day in history. Barack Obama became the first African American president of the United States. This accomplishment broke through a huge glass ceiling for African Americans. The had had equal rights for a long time, but there was still a prejudice about blacks that prevented them from fully taking advantage of their rights. Obama's election to office showed everyone that they could achieve anything, no matter their race. (history.com)
