Student Voices This past week was a life changing experience. It provided an insight into the lives of the victims of Hurricane Katrina, through rebuilding their homes with work and restoring their hearts with love. |
When I tell people about my trip to New Orleans they may think that all that happened was that we spent time helping to rebuild a community that was devastated by a natural disaster. That is true, and it is good that we took the time to help rebuild a part of New Orleans. However, I feel that during the week we all enjoyed the time we spent together, working side-by-side with those that were strangers before the week started. New relationships, I feel, were made, and have potential to last more than just a week. When we work together, side-by-side, I believe we renew the spirits of one another. Helping to renew others, I believe, helps to renew yourself as well. |
Many people in the community made our small efforts seem like so much more, and it is exciting to know that (when I go back this summer) I can drive by a house and say that I contributed something to the family living inside. I can honestly say that I will return to Musician's Village if only to turn towards whoever is with me and tell them (with genuine pride) that I helped turn a mound of dirt into that person's yard. |
This trip really put poverty into prospective. If it was not for Habitat for Humanity and other charitable organizations, the 9th Ward would never recover to what it was in my lifetime. When you go to downtown New Orleans, it looks as if nothing happened. But, as soon as you enter the neighborhoods, you notice that some areas are being left behind in the recovery effort. You don't have to go half-way around the world to find despair. There are third world conditions right here in America that need to be recovered. |
I think that the best thing that we can do for New Orleans while not actually being there is to share our experience with everyone we know so that many more people might come to understand the extent of the work that must be done before the city is what it used to be. |
I think every student at UNCA should have an experience like the one each of us had in New Orleans, an experience that allows us to give a helping hand, connect as a community, and realize how fortunate we are for what we have and what we can give because of that. |
Some days I ask myself questions about ways to improve things, but I don't have an answer, and I believe part of the reason we put so much faith into the youth is because with their maturity comes the possibility of change and improvement. It seems like we are waiting for the world to change, and some days I wonder just what can I really do that will help, and hope that maybe one day the solution will come to me or someone else. Unfortunately it seems that there is no perfect solution, and the best way to help is by embodying the things we did in New Orleans: give of ourselves fully, stay diligent but don't burn out, enjoy your company, and don't complain unless it leads to improvement. |
I was apprehensive about going down to NOLA. I had no idea what to expect, but the wonderful people I worked with and the strong and amazing people that I met down there have changed my life. |
I would gladly pay more, work more, and sleep on less to do it again. |
One thing that I really enjoyed about the trip was that I was able to work to revitalize New Orleans and in the evening I was able to enjoy the city and not feel like I was being a hypocritical tourist who just came to the city to enjoy it and not give back to the area which needs so much work. |
At first I was a bit skeptical about my ability to truly be of use in building a house. I mean, what do I know about construction? But by the end of the week I came to realize that the actual labor we did was only part of the equation. Talking to the homeowners and just being in New Orleans were the true services we provided. Although our group knew little about construction, I feel like we offered hope and the assurance that the suffering of New Orleans has not been forgotten. |
Don't let fear of something that is unknown to you hinder you because you could miss out on a truly amazing experience. I was very nervous about going to NOLA. I was afraid of how I might feel or react to the things I saw. I was afraid of feeling overwhelmed and helpless and not being able to do anything I would feel made an impact. I was wrong, and I'm glad I took the opportunity to learn that. |
The one memory that sticks out in my mind and will likely never leave me is when a small group of us were walking down the street to work in the park and a man came out of his FEMA trailer and called us over. He told us his stories of surviving Katrina and about how he had to swim a block down to get a boat that was stuck in debris so he could use it to drive to a nearby store that he was able to get into to take food for himself and family to survive. His whole family lived in the neighborhood directly around the park we were working on and he explained that every generation of his family as far back as he knew lived in that same neighborhood. He returned to his home in New Orleans where he has diligently been working to make his home suitable to live in again. To make money to rebuild his own home, he has been offering electrician services very cheap to people in the neighborhood since he holds those precious skills that are needed by so many in that area. He told us about how he was displaced to Columbia, SC when they were rescued. Columbia is my hometown so he was telling me specific places that he was sent, all of which I know and could relate to, and he explained that the government and volunteers in Columbia treated him and everyone else that was sent there like kings. He went on for about thirty minutes about how good he was treated and how appreciative he was. This really touched home with me and made me feel proud to be from such a great city. The man also took time to tell us how much of an impact our work had on his community and that they couldn’t do it without us. His words were so motivating and inspirational that it made every drop of sweat, blister and sore muscle worth it and I was devastated by the thought that I could only spend one last day helping rebuild his neighborhood. |
New Orleans is still devastated and this can only be understood from a first hand encounter. I had an idea of how bad it was, but it was nothing close. Outside of the thriving hustle and bustle of downtown and the French Quarter New Orleans appears as a town largely forgotten by the world. I feel very privileged that I got a chance to create a drop in the bucket despite the organizational shortcomings of Habitat-New Orleans. |
My week was one of the best weeks I have had in my college career. There is nothing more in life fulfilling in life then offering yourself to someone in need. I got to do this with 49 other people that I didn't really know, but we returned all having learned something different but having seen the same things and there is no greater feeling than that connection. With my own agenda, I wasn't sure the week would be like as the leader. Would I enjoy myself to the maximum capacity and get everything I wanted out of it? I got all that and more. I have never felt so fulfilled in my life. I left with a little part of me wishing that I could fix up one little thing in each house and have the homeowners come home smiling. |
One reflection I have would be how grateful and appreciative people were in New Orleans. We would walk down the streets and people would thank us, and tell us how great it was that we were there, helping out. They were very very thankful for us volunteers. And that really touched me. I definitely want to go back and help out again. |
One of the most valuable parts of this experience was the opportunity to work with my peers at UNCA. I'm a junior, and I met individuals for the first time on this trip that I've had several classes with. It was inspiring to be with people that I know in that sort of environment. I think that we are so lucky to go to a school where we are given opportunities to participate in activities and trips like this one. I learned more in that one week than I have in many of my classes- there is something special about meeting different types of people and getting to see what life is like for them. It is a different kind of education entirely, and it is just as valuable and important as the one we receive in the classroom. |