My Hurricane Story

On August 29, 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast I had just become a senior at University High School in Baton Rouge La. Because Hurricane Katrina was hitting so close to Baton Rouge I was not in school, but at home preparing for incase the storm did hit. At first when I heard the storm was coming I was a little excited because that meant no school for few days. Although the hurricane did not hit my city directly I believe it made the most power impact to Baton Rouge than any other place besides New Orleans. Baton Rouge is not a very big city like New Orleans. It is big but at the same time small and safe. After the hurricane it seemed like everyone who got out of New Orleans ran to Baton Rouge. Making traffic horrible and crime increased. My small little city grew over night. Trailer and Mobil homes took over the city, everywhere one could place it was. On the news more and more stories of break in started being show. My school was not to badly affected by incoming New Orleans students like other school. I went to private school located on LSU campus. At my school after interviews students and questioning parents and filling out the application about 10 to 12 New Orleans seniors coming from school like Brother Martin, Newman, Holly Cross and Jenerette were selected to attend for the academic school year. At my school the New Orleans Kid were welcomed with open arms and got along great with everyone. They fit right in like nothing had ever happened while at other public school it caused wars. Almost everyday storied about New Orleans kids and Baton Rouge kids fighting over territory took place. Some school had to go on lock down while at other police were called. At the school my Aunt teaches at in New Iberia, New Orleans kid threw desk in the hallways and broke windows. It was like the city had gone while and was fighting for control. At first when the hurricane hit I felt bad for people who had lived in New Orleans but then over time I was outraged. How can people who only live 45 minutes away be a total different culture? At fist I want to help and give but slowly I stopped. I could not understand how people who had nothing before think they were entitled to so much after. Then when people tried to help they were ungrateful as though I was obliged to do thing for them. It is almost two years later and people are still begging. Yes the hurricane was horrible and people did lose there homes but that can only be a crutch to lean on for so long before a person needs to start doing things for them self.
I find Hurricane Katrina and the story of Noah arc in the bible very ironic for after both events rainbow appeared coving the sky. In the bible a rainbow stand for a promise made by god to never flood the earth again.
In the bible the first chapter of Genesis chapter 6 through 8 god tells Noah to build and arc for him and his family taking two of every animal. God goes on to Noah there will be a great flood whipping the earth clean of sinner and those who don’t believe. New Orleans was cities that needed to be cleans and given a fresh start. Crime, Politics, and Drugs had taken over the city and all those people and the power were whipped away with the strom.
At first when reading the expectation of the class and seeing that I had to write a 1000 words a week I thought this class might be a little overwhelming, but then after meeting Dr. Homan and seeing how laidback he seems and how he runs his class I rethought about not dropping the course. 1000 words is a lot to have to write a week in 14 weeks that’s over 14,000 words, but with some extra work and time management it might not be so bad.
When looking through the catalog for opinions I could take for theology I chose Biblical Studies in order to a deeper understanding of the bible and how it is written. Once you sit down and really try to read it really is interesting. As a Christian my faith tells me to believe in certain thing but it often amazes me how science a field I hope to one day enter and the bible the beliefs I have been raised on so often collide.
Since a young child I was raised in a Baptist church. I was rededicated to god when I was born and baptized at the age of 5. For as long as I can remember I have been part of the church doing plays, camps, and vacation bible school. I have all ways found the bible interesting and at one point tried to read it cover to cover but never seceded. The bibl is full of stories but I find it old that it always the same stories that get told over and over. I am not ignorant to other cutlers and very often open to discussion on religions. Although I do attend a Baptist church I see my self as more Christian then Baptist.
After leaving Xavier and attending Medical school I hope to one day become an Orthopedic Surgeon Sports Medicine Physician. I don’t know about other doctors, but to me religion is very important first comes god then comes work. I was raised to believe that in everything you do you should include god. How can a person go into surgery with some ones life on the line and not pray before. Yes I am confident in my abilities but prayer gives me a little extra reassurance on the task I am about to do.
Valencia L. Johnson

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 at 11:00 am and is filed under Week 01: Background. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.