For 13-year-old Abdullah Alacozai the horror in America has brought back memories of life in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul - memories he shared with fellow students at Lynfield College in Mt Roskill.
"I was about 8 or 9 ... we were running for our lives and bullets weregetting shot. People in front of us were getting shot. Blood sprayed in our faces," the year nine student told a school assembly.
"That is why I have come to a peaceful country like New Zealand. I hope it always stays peaceful."
Last week's terrorist attack and what could happen next are being discussed in school classrooms and playgrounds around the country.
Speaking after the assembly, Abdullah, who bears a deep scar between his eyes from a piece of glass that hit him when his family home was bombed, wants people to open their eyes to what is going on around them.
"People in places like Afghanistan die every day from hunger, disease and bombing.
"My country is conquered by the Taleban. I used to dream of going back there to rebuild my country but my dreams have been shattered."
The teenager hopes New Zealanders will be tolerant but he fears some are not - when he and his family visited their mosque to pray last week many of the cars parked outside were damaged.
"That morning I got up and saw what happened in America and I cried. It reminded me of my country. Afghanistan used to be the most beautiful country in the world. Now you don't see a building standing without bullet holes in it."
