2008 Service Trip to New Orleans

It is Saturday afternoon and we are getting ready to go out to dinner with a Wake alum who runs a non-profit dedicated to the reconstruction of New Orleans. We are finished working for the week and today has been a free, which has given me the opportunity to reflect upon the work that we have done and the things that we have seen since last Sunday. Although I had heard many stories about the destruction of New Orleans, this trip has been a very eye-opening experience. By living in New Orleans and listening to the people’s stories, I have gained a new appreciation for the physical destruction of the city and the emotional devastation of its people. Everyone who has lived through Katrina has a story to tell. It has been both heartbreaking and extremely moving to hear first-hand how the storm tore apart families, destroyed homes, and caused immeasurable psychological and emotional damage. But even though the trip has had its sad moments, it has also had inspirational ones. It’s very encouraging to see residents moving back into the neighborhoods that they grew up in and to see volunteers come in droves to help to rebuild to city and to provide support to the communities. Obviously, there is a lot more work to be done, but I am very grateful that our group has been given the opportunity to volunteer our time and to meet the brave people who have lived through the storm. My one hope is that the work that we have done for the people of New Orleans will be as enduring as the immeasurable impact that this trip has had on me and my life. Being exposed to the struggles that the people down here have faced and the destruction that the storm has caused has been an extremely powerful experience and is something that I will take with me back to Wake Forest and carry with me for the rest of my life.