I visited Paris with my orchestra class in the spring of 2014, when I was in ninth grade. We visited the Paris Conservatory of Music and played at a women’s shelter. On our last night, we took a boat ride on the Seine River, and I remember looking at the Eiffel Tower, covered with sparkling lights. I suddenly understood why people travel from around the world to see the City of Lights.

When my twin sister and I were six, she would tell me about her dream to live in Paris, and although we live in St. Louis Park, I’m still surrounded by hints of the city. In English class, we are reading a book called “Perfume,” which takes place in Paris. Before leaving for a trip last week, I talked to my French teacher about the homework I would miss. My classmate and I planned to go to Epcot in Orlando, Florida, and visit the miniature Paris for culture points.

When I heard about the attacks in Paris Nov. 13, I was overwhelmed with emotion. As a French student at the high school, my plans to visit Paris in the near future did not seem like a possibility anymore.

I do not see Paris as the dreamy city I visited a few years ago. Old streets with brightly colored buildings tightly packed onto one block no longer pop into my mind.

Now, I think of a city with a rich history and a profound resilience against adversary. From the French Revolution to the recent massacre at the newspaper Charlie Hebdo, to the attacks last week, Paris is a city filled with its own challenges, but also the ability to bounce back and evolve.

The world changes in front of my eyes, and I know, soon, my generation will be the leaders. I think about how even though I am just one person, and I cannot change the world, I still have to hold myself accountable. I cannot expect anyone else to take a stand if I watch from the sidelines.

I have my French textbook waiting to be opened again in my backpack. I do not know if I want to move to Paris when I get older, but right now, I have the chance to educate and prepare myself for whatever I choose to do.

Tonight, I sit down with my biology notes, my math homework and my French textbook, resisting what these acts of terror attempted to destroy. I will continue to live my life as I did before studying for the next test or paper, preparing for my future.