Former student recalls witnessing 9/11 attack

The experience of standing below the North tower of the World Trade Center when the first plane struck

on Sept. 11, 2001 took Jamie Alistair Gonzalez, down a life altering path which included withdrawal, denial, illness and finally recovery.

"The worst moment for me was when the buildings fell. We didn't know what would happen next," Gonzalez said. "Each moment was one in which we expected something bigger to happen. That went on for weeks."

At 8:30 a.m., Gonzalez was scheduled to meet some friends who were visiting from Spain, and introduce them to New York City with a view from atop the World Trade Center. The first plane hit the North Tower at 8:46 a.m., but his friends were late and he had waited for them outside. They were spared.

As the son of a decorated Chicago fireman, Gonzalez said he felt a bond with the first responders and visited Ground Zero to talk with rescue workers, offer comfort and listen to them. However, he didn't take time to process his own emotions and as a result went into denial. "I

was giving comfort to the rescue workers but I didn't do that for myself. I didn't talk to anyone about my experiences," said Gonzalez.

It wasn't until his health began to decline from exposure to toxins due to living and working in the area that Gonzalez started to acknowledge the trauma that he had experienced. Gonzalez developed severe neurological damage which led to symptoms such as extreme fatigue, fevers, temporary paralysis and extreme allergic reactions.

"It devastated me. It still devastates me," said Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who lived and worked close to Ground Zero,

said that he inhaled the dust and fumes 24 hours-a-day and is furious that first responders have had to fight for health care assistance after developing illnesses related to working in the debris.

Illness and emotional strain caused Gonzalez to retreat.

Gonzalez left his home in New York and moved to Austin where he enrolled in classes ranging from arts and philosophy to history and journalism at several colleges and universities including ACC.

According to Gonzalez, he worked among some of the most amazing people he ever met during his time at ACC from 2006 to 2007. He was also a writer for Accent during this time which he described as one of the best of his life.

In 2009, Gonzalez relocated to Los Angeles where met up with Traver Rains of the fashion house Heatherette. This was the beginning of a collaboration that led Gonzalez to develop two new clothing lines which will be released in the near future.

It's been 10 years since Gonzalez lived through the traumatic events of 9/11 and he is energized and optimistic about the future. He describes his current physical condition as stable and he is thriving professionally.

"I have finally begun to heal," said Gonzalez.