UF Essay

On August 28, 2005 Hurricane Katrina tore through the homes and lives of millions living in the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi and New Orleans. With category 5 winds and a failed levee system, nearly 80% of New Orleans flooded and over 1,000 people lost their lives. Nearly sixteen months later, I began my first mission trip.

I will never forget the images I saw of the lower Ninth Ward and other destroyed areas where we worked. Homes were completely ruined and personal belongings were strewn about neighborhoods in places they didn’t belong. The majority of homes remained untouched; even more, completely abandoned. For seven days we worked to empty and gut three different homes. This included everything from moving ruined furniture to tearing down drywall and ripping up linoleum floors. This labor was intense both physically and emotionally. Often times we met and talked with the devastated homeowners who returned to collect anything salvageable.

On the next trip, the summer of 2006, our group of volunteers worked in Waveland, Mississippi doing yard work. However, this was much more than just cutting the grass. We worked for a week straight, through summer showers, cutting down chest-high weeds and fallen trees large enough to destroy anything in their path. These jobs were not important by government standards, but for the homeowners, they were monumental. The gratitude they expressed taught me that sometimes the smallest contributions are the most significant. On my third trip during the summer of 2008 we worked with the Habitat for Humanity in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. We helped paint walls, baseboards, trim, and porch railings; lay floorboards; construct and caulk door frames and window boxes; and clean up the worksites at each of the six Habitat homes.

Each of these mission trips has had an immeasurable effect on me. Everything from the work we did to the places we lived and the people we met has made a lasting impression on who I am and what I want to do in my life. I learned countless valuable lessons through these experiences, such as the importance of helping others whenever and however possible. I do not put all my value in material things, and I am thankful for what I have. Most importantly I learned the importance of working with others and that I can make a difference in the world.
While Hurricane Katrina and the chaos that ensued tested my hope and faith in people, each trip not only restored, but strengthened my outlook on life and society’s potential to do good. The small contributions made by others helped patch together a city previously torn apart. These trips have prepared me for the challenges ahead. They have given me the experience I need to be a productive member of my current community and future UF community. My leadership skills and strong work ethic, coupled with a big heart, ensure that I possess the qualities and dedication necessary to be a valuable asset to the UF community.