While senior Anna Kung and junior Aliza Keen watched President Obama's announcement Sunday night, they couldn't help but discuss the events of 9/11, and the legacy it left in their lives.
Kung, a resident of Manhattan, said the event disturbed the area for weeks.
"That week there was a lot of chaos," she said." I live in China town — everything was closed, and the government gave us air filters because of the dust. We didn't get groceries, so I remember only eating eggs and onions for a week. My family who lives in Hong Kong was calling us the whole time making sure we were ok."
Remembering the struggles herself and her community faced at that time, Kung said she has a mixed response about the recent announcement.
"Right now I'm definitely happy, but I don't know enough about the war," she said. "Being a New Yorker, this news affects us differently."
Kung plans to return to New York upon graduation.
"I'm a little worried about living there again," she said. "I'm afraid another attack could happen because I know that New York City is a prime target. I wouldn't be surprised if NYC was attacked again."
Junior Jonathan Rosario in Roy O. West library when he saw his Twitter feed explode with the news of bin Laden's death.
"I thought it was bittersweet," he said. "I wasn't sure whether to consider it a victory or a potential threat. I did feel some sort of [patriotism] but I didn't feel like we should get too comfortable."
Rosario said that, with New York City being an obvious target, he is concerned for his family in the future.
Keen, who witnessed the attacks as a sixth grader in Queens, said she could see the skyline and the World Trade towers from her neighborhood.
"There was a metallic smell in the air for a week, you could smell it every time you went outside," she said."
Nevertheless, the memory will continue to stick with her. "The first time I flew home to New York I got really scared when he approached the skyline," she said. "It's definitely scary because it could happen again."
Kung readily agreed.
"Today is a big deal," she said. "But for New Yorkers, this is more personal."