South Kent School students in American History and Literature were given a powerful firsthand account of history today as William “Bill” Watts, MarketWatch markets editor, shared his experiences as a journalist in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001.
Watts, who was in the National Press Building that morning, was on his way to Capitol Hill when news broke of the attacks. He was at his bureau when the Pentagon was struck, and the Capitol was swiftly evacuated. Speaking to students, he described the “fog of uncertainty as people tried to figure out what was going on,” as news reports came in rapidly, and misinformation spread in the chaos of the moment.
While inside the National Press Building—just three blocks from the White House—Watts and others felt the impact of the plane hitting the Pentagon. The force of the explosion shook buildings in the heart of Washington, leaving many to wonder whether the White House or Capitol might be next.
Beyond the immediate devastation and loss of life, Watts also emphasized the stark impact on the financial system, along with the real sense of sadness and danger that lingered in the days and weeks after the attacks. Markets were thrown into disarray, with banks and financial institutions paralyzed by uncertainty. He spoke about the ripple effects of the disruption, as Wall Street ground to a halt and global markets reeled.
To give students a sense of how the media documented this unprecedented event, Watts shared MarketWatch’s front page from September 11, 2001, as well as coverage from the following week—when his Washington bureau office received an anthrax-laced package, part of a second wave of terror that further heightened national fears.
Students engaged in a thoughtful Q&A session, asking Watts about the feeling on the ground in D.C. and how people reacted in the moment. He described a city caught between shock, fear, and resilience, as journalists, government officials, and civilians all struggled to comprehend the scope of the attack.
The visit was organized by Humanities faculty member Ross LeBlond, whose students have spent the trimester exploring themes of change in American lives. As part of their coursework, students have been reading Reluctant Hero by Mike Benfante, a survivor who carried a woman in a wheelchair down 68 flights of stairs in the North Tower. By hearing firsthand from individuals who lived through 9/11—including several members of our South Kent Community, and now a journalist who covered the event—students are gaining a deeper, more personal understanding of the tragedy’s lasting impact.
“Even though this happened before they were born, the impact is still felt by those who lived through it,” LeBlond said. “By bringing in guests who experienced 9/11 in different ways, we’re helping students see that this isn’t just a chapter in a history book—it’s a moment that shaped the world they live in.”
For many students, Watts’ visit was an eye-opening experience, offering a direct link between history and its long-term consequences.
As one student, originally from Korea, reflected, “I knew about 9/11, but hearing about it from someone who was actually there made it feel real in a way I hadn’t understood before.”
South Kent continues to emphasize the importance of understanding history through personal narratives, ensuring that students see events not just as distant moments in time, but as experiences that shaped the world they live in today. Bill Watts’ visit reinforced that 9/11 is not just history—it is a story that still resonates, still teaches, and still matters.