The Highlander

Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Feature

Media Credit: courtesy of Zach Owens EFT TO RIGHT: Sean Moroze, Zach Owens, and Keanu, another participant of "Hands On."

Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast over two years ago. Since then, millions of dollars in volunteer services have been poured into the rebuilding the many homes and communities destroyed by the storm.

In the months following the storm, media outlets tirelessly covered the destruction; it was at the forefront of national issues. But soon enough, even the coverage lessened and the hurricane became another afterthought in many people's minds. I was no different.

I truly didn't think there was much work that still needed to be done along the Gulf Coast, believing that those who had already volunteered their time, effort, and money had essentially fixed what was destroyed by the hurricane. But, when I finally saw for myself what Hurricane Katrina had done, I realized that the help put in so far wasn't enough.

When I took part in the Biloxi, Mississippi spring break trip, our entire focus was volunteering our time to help those in need. I, along with nine others, spent the week in Biloxi with a volunteer organization called Hands On. We joined a variety of other schools from all over the country who had made the same decision we had- to spend our spring break helping those still recovering from the storm.

At first I was apprehensive because it was the first trip I had ever done of this sort. We had to camp outside a church, take four minute showers, and wake up at 7 a.m. every morning. It was different than anything I had ever experienced.

Everyday was a new project, ranging from removing mold from a house, to building trails, to cleaning up a national park. Even with so much left to be done, I ended the trip feeling better. I realized that I had taken part in something that would touch the lives of so many people.

I returned home from the trip not just with a new understanding of what work still needs to be done in that region, but also with unforgettable new friends and memories.



Sean Moroze is a sophomore majoring in Biology. He hopes to attend medical school.

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