Powerful Moment

    Many people simply remember hurricane Katrina as a storm but I remember it as one of the most important times in my life. Not every ten-year-old has experienced the great amount of sympathy and fear that I had when twenty-three strangers camped out in my home for two months. They were my step dads relatives from New Orleans and I had never met any of them before. At the time I lived in a  small three bedroom house in Baton Rouge which is forty-five minutes away from New Orleans. 

    My home resembled a mini New Orleans Saints super-dome in a way because just like the super dome where most of the Katrina evacuees went, my house was also packed with strange people, few resources, and very cluttered. People occupied every room in the house including my own, I ended up sleeping on the couch the whole time they were living with us.  If I had complained about not having my room I'm sure I could have gotten it back but when those around you have been through such a traumatic experience bringing up something so petty just doesn't seem like the right thing to do. At night there was absolutely no room to walk around because people were sleeping on every square inch of my house, besides the kitchen. 

    Six of these strangers were kids my age and had to attend my elementary school towards the end of the school year. It was awkward for them because the school year was almost over and everything was already set in place. I tried to help them out by showing them where  their classes were and by introducing them to new people but things were so different from what they were use to they had a hard time adjusting.  

     I also struggled with getting accustomed to living with so many people. Nothing was ever where I left it, the house was always a mess, and people were not respectful of any of our belongings. My family didn't really own anything anymore, everything basically turned to community property where if someone wanted to use your belongings they just did without permission. Among my presence were murderers, drunkards, and thieves. I found this out as I got older but as a kid some of the stuff I heard and saw just didn't register. 

    Hurricane Katrina was such an eye opening experience for me because I had never lived with so many different types of people. Even though I was fortunate enough to not be  caught in the actual storm, it still was able to change my life. The experiences I had during this time good and bad helped me become a well rounded person and understand things about people that might be harder for others to grasp.  I'm blessed that I was able to help so many people in need.