Something So Sad Can Be So Beautiful: A Qualitative Study of Adolescent Experiences at a 9/11 Memorial

Abstract

Adolescents frequently travel on school excursions or with their families, yet little is known about their experiences. Included in their destinations are historical sites that commemorate human suffering, including memorials associated with terrorism. The current study analyzed written responses from 133 adolescents who were participating in school excursions to the Flight 93 National Memorial. Qualitative coding suggests that adolescents grasped the importance of the memorial and were able to reflect on issues related to death and dying. Adolescents experienced negative emotions such as sadness, yet their feelings did not detract from the visit. This study sheds light on an overlooked adolescent visitor experience and reveals that school excursions to painful heritage sites may offer opportunities for adolescents to confront and discuss difficult topics, such as death and terrorism.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrea R. Croom

Andrea R. Croom is a licensed psychologist practicing in the Pittsburgh community. She has a specialization in grief therapy and, in the past, has conducted research to better understand how children process difficult topics, such as death and dying, during visits to museums. Address correspondence to: Andrea R. Croom, Spiegel Freedman Psychological Associates, 105 Braunlich Drive, Suite 210, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Chloe Squitiero

Chloe Squitiero is a doctoral student at the Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology at the University of Hartford. As an undergraduate, she was a member of Dr. Kerr’s research team.

Mary Margaret Kerr

Mary Margaret Kerr is Professor of Administrative and Policy Studies, Psychology in Education, and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research team studies the experiences of children who travel, focusing on visits to painful heritage sites.