One of my fondest memories is math class on Friday, November 11, 2011. The class started at 11:00am and for the next 11 minutes, our class of 25 did nothing but watch the clock. If a student pulled out a textbook, our teacher, an athletic 6’2″ middle-aged white male, would yell at them to put it away. And so we sat – waiting, holding our breath. The minute before 11:11 was the longest minute of my life.

When the monumental time finally arrived, the class erupted: a mix of cheers, wonder, and amazement. My teacher burst into tears in front of us.

We all recognised there was something beautiful in that minute, 11:11am at 11/11/11, a minute unique to human civilisation, one that would never be seen again.