This week marks my 25th California-versary. I arrived in California as an exchange student on September 9, 2001. Two days before 9/11.
Most people share where they were and what they were doing on September,11 every year and how it has changed their lives and this country. And because people have asked, I have written about how I experienced that day. I was a foreigner in a new country and so naturally, my experience was very different from others.
But for me, it also marks a time that completely changed my life – just in a very different way. What was supposed to be a 6-month visit ended up being life-changing. I always think back and wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t already arrived in the US, if my flight had been scheduled for a few days later, if I would have come to California at all. At this point, it seems unfathomable that there was a real possibility that I could have not ended up here.
Sometimes we forget how seemingly small, insignificant things can have a huge impact on our lives. Every decision, or lack thereof, and every little change of plans, intentional or not, has lead us to where we are today. It’s mind-blowing to think about what it really means for each of our lives. You know how some people say everything happens for a reason? I don’t really subscribe to this sentiment (because I don’t think everything happens for a reason), but surely some things do.
Do you think some things happen for a reason? Or is life just a string of random incidents? (Not less impactful either way.)
You can read my reflections on my 20th California-versary here.
Birchie
September 10, 2026 at 5:24 pmHappy CA 25th!
Team Random! “Everything happens for a reason” never really held up for me, especially if it’s thrown out in the aftermath of a bad event. But whether random or for a reason, I’m glad that you are here!
San
September 19, 2026 at 11:49 amThank you, and I am happy to hear you’re #teamrandom
coco
September 11, 2026 at 1:21 amhappy anniversary.
I don’t question tooo much whether things always happen for a reason, rather I find the silver lining in things that happen, even they are not great.
San
September 19, 2026 at 11:49 amThank you :)
Catrina
September 11, 2026 at 1:41 amHappy 25th California-versary, San!! 🎉
I often wonder about those “what if?” versions of our lives. What if I had never met my husband? What if I had decided to have kids? There are so many little forks in the road that could have led to a completely different life.
And, like Birchie, I’m definitely Team Random. It makes me think of Ecclesiastes 9:11: “time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all.” Sometimes completely unforeseen things really do change the entire trajectory of our lives!
San
September 19, 2026 at 11:50 amSo many forks! ;) Also happy to hear you’re #teamrandom
Nicole MacPherson
September 11, 2026 at 5:26 amHappy anniversary!
It’s fascinating to me, looking at my life or other people’s, how things can be affected by a single decision. What if you got delayed? Your life might be completely different! I guess I’m neither Team Random or Team Reason – or maybe I’m a little bit of both? I just find it fascinating the trajectories our lives take.
San
September 19, 2026 at 11:51 amThank you. I totally agree that every life path is forever fascinating!
Ernie
September 11, 2026 at 12:08 pmI did not know that you had just arrived to this country a few days before 9/11. I agree, small changes of big decisions like where to go to college, can really impact the trajectory of life.
I do t think everything happens for a reason, but I do trust in God’s plan. Or I try to, I guess.
I moved to a northern suburb of chicago the day before high school started. We may as well have moved out of state, because driving back to our neighborhood was not easy or a regular event. Anyway, Coach lived down the street. He became my younger brother’s good friend and years later we started to date. I was upset when we moved, but looking back it was the best thing that could’ve happened. I also loved my high school’s
San
September 19, 2026 at 11:51 amSo interesting to hear about your own little “forks in the road” and how it all lead to where you are today :)
Tobia | craftaliciousme
September 12, 2026 at 2:51 pmHappy Anniversary.
I am with you – not everything happens for a reason but some things do.
Reading your post I just remembered that I flew back (through NYC) that previous weekend. I think the 7th or 8th. I can’t imagine being stranded alone in the U.S.
San
September 19, 2026 at 11:52 amOh, I don’t think I knew that you returned from the US just a few days before 9/11. That must have been its own kind of weird.
Lisa’s Yarns
September 13, 2026 at 2:43 pmI am team random. I don’t really think things are preordained/meant to be. I do like thinking about what life would look like if we made one different decision, like where to go to college or whether I took a certain job. It’s fun to think about how different life could look!
What a time to arrive in the USA. I do feel like you saw the best of the country in the days/weeks/months to follow, though. The country really banded together.
San
September 19, 2026 at 11:53 amI like how you put that, Lisa. I think you’re right that I might have seen the best of this country in the time after 9/11… how have we gotten away from that again?