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Lessons learned from writing a personal narrative
Lessons learned from writing a personal narrative
Personal narrative writing short story
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In August 2005, at the tender age of 7, I received the most devastating news. I was told by my family that a hurricane was coming to my city, New Orleans, Louisiana. Because of this storm, Hurricane Katrina, I was told that I would most likely have to move away for a long time, meaning the rest of my life. My family and I lost everything, and the hurricane ended up destroying the entire city completely. This was heartbreaking to me for a plethora of reasons, including that I lost loved ones and was separated from the rest of my family at such an early age. This ravaging storm marked the most drastic change of my life. After Hurricane Katrina swept through my home, my family and I evacuated and moved to Houston, Texas. Due to the devastation, we had to move to various 1 bedroom apartments to eventually find permanent housing for our family of 8. In this …show more content…
process, I was forced to learn the proper skills of how to maintain myself, my own happiness and entertainment, as well as how to adjust to drastic changes. Doing so, I overcame the toughest of times with my newly found personal independence at such a young age. I moved schools approximately 5 times while living in Texas. I had to quickly adapt to completely new environments, which included different students, classes, teachers, and teaching methods. I adjusted to all of these changes exceptionally well. Moving around as many times as I did, music became my safe haven and became an essential way for me to express myself. I have been singing and performing since the early age of 5. I have always resulted to singing as a way to get myself through the toughest times and challenging circumstances. As a child, I was astounded by music and the affect it had on me and others. I have immersed myself in every performance and competition that I have been involved in and I strive to sharpen my talents each day. I believe that the University of California would take my musicianship and passion to a completely new level. When I first heard of the University of California system, I was extremely thrilled to discover that the universities have exceptional music departments and choral programs, as well as opportunities for ways to improve myself as a musician by being involved in such talented communities of students. It would be my dream to be a part of such a stellar program. I believe my goals to pursue a higher education to become a superior musician, my past experiences, personal achievements, and talent would make me the idea candidate for this University.
The hardships that I have faced as a victim of Hurricane Katrina have molded me into the strong individual that I am today. I have gained the personal achievement of being able adapt to almost any change and still be able to get through almost any challenge that I am faced with. I believe that there was a purpose to everything that has happened in my life; I am now living in California, a place where I will have so many opportunities to share my talents and fine qualities and to be able to pursue my destiny. That may be either my aspiration to pursue music for the rest of my life and convey my experiences through my music, or to work in the entertainment industry; and California is home to the entertainment capital of the world. Music has always been my foundation through everything that I have been through, and being able to follow my dreams and pursue a career in entertainment would be the ultimate personal reward of my
life.
Most of the population today, mainly the younger generations, do not know exactly how good they have it or how much worse the quality of life can be. Personally, I’ve been fortunate enough in my life to not have experienced too many hardships. It was a real eye-opener for me after my interview with Mary Fowler, Great Depression survivor. She has been a close friend to my grandmother for as long as I can remember, but I have never heard her real story.
Katrina demolished more residential buildings than any other recent hurricane and ‘’Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne which in total, wrecked approximately 85,000 homes.’’ Hurricane Katrina also left ‘’many people homeless as more than 800,000 housing units were destroyed or damaged in the storm.’’ The storm dislocated beyond a million people in the Gulf Coast region. Even though residents have returned home, up to ‘’600,000 households were still displaced a month later.’’ The storm may have happened in 2006, but it still impacted the following year by 85 percent of public schools remaining
Hurricane Katrina left a devastating scar on the citizens of the southern coast of the U.S., especially New Orleans, Louisiana. The category 5 hurricane was the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the most deadly. Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29th, 2005 and after that day, 66,000 people were displaced from their homes. Of those who decided to ride out the storm with hopes of success and survival as they had experienced with other storms, they were found on their rooftops, in their attics, hoping for boat or helicopter rescue, relying on others for help to survive. The storm had reached 28,000 square feet inward to Louisiana, which was 60 percent of the state. 1,100 Louisianans lost their lives, and 200,000 were displaced and/or lost their homes (Davis 8). It was a devastating time of despair and suffering. People were put through experiences that would scar them for a long time. While preparing for evacuation, people left most of their belongings at home to flee to a safer city or to find shelter in the Superdome and Convention Center. Some even decided to remain in their boarded up homes. After the hurricane had past, a few hours went by and a levee located near the Mississippi River canal broke leaving New Orleans flooded (Delisi). After the disaster, the state and federal governments were pointing fingers at each other as to who was to blame for the poorly planned evacuation and rescue efforts for the victims. The state government promised to help evacuate those who could not transport themselves. Citizens were told to go to the Superdome and convention center for evacuation, but the supplies needed for survi...
I’m actually kind of shocked I could write about recovery because it is a topic with a special meaning to myself. But, I found it easier to write about my own experience with a negative event this time, and I believe it is because I grew as a writer. I saw the value the personal testimony adds to a piece, and thus I could add my own story.
On October third 2002, I was eight years old when Hurricane Lili hit the state of Louisiana. On that intense windy and rainy day, my Pastor, Mark Briggs and his daughter, Marla, decided to venture out in search of those that needed aid and assistance. Driving through their beautifully wooded neighborhood they encountered a, once strong, oak that had fallen in the middle of the street. While this wasn’t the “rescue” they had expected; it would, however, allow emergency vehicles passage to those in need, As Pastor wrapped the clunky chain around the base of the fallen tree, his truck’s front end wench moaned and groaned, in the effort to move this tree to the side of the road.
My most life changing experience was when I moved from the sunny skies of North Carolina to The Blizzard, more formally known as Germany in the middle of my second grade year. My Step-Dad was active duty in the military. Of course, he had to drag us with him. He flew out to Germany first so for about three weeks it was just Mom and I. Just about every day Mom would say “Two more weeks till Germany, Tarix”, “One more week till Germany, Tarix” (Rich), which I never took to heart. I was too caught up in deciding what my Barbie was going to wear that day and riding my new tricycle to have time to process her words. Ignorance was bliss until the movers came to our house and packed up all my memories into big brown boxes. The night before
On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina forced its way into New Orleans, Louisiana with winds of more than 140 mph. This storm was a strong category three when it hit New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina destroyed homes, businesses, and factories from the high winds and flooding. The devastation that the city suffered was terrible; many people lost family members young and old and also their most prized possessions. Most of all it displaced families and caused an abundance of damage to properties. Due to the costly destruction that the city of New Orleans faced after Katrina, they must now find a way to alleviate the blighted properties from their environment and also face the challenges.
After Hurricane Betsy the community started to deteriorate. I believed the levee has been blown to save other parts of the city but no one ever admitted that. I worked hard after Betsy to fight for urban renewal but it was hard and there was too much commitment to travel and attend meetings. All the grant money was spent on building homes and other investments in the community. The community leaders got rich but I didn’t get a dime. I moved away for awhile but then I moved back to the Ninth Ward. The neighbors were much more caring after Betsy.
I remember the long-term recovery of Hurricane Katrina. I remember watching the news seeing people on the roof after the hurricane. I remember the families crying, pleading for help. Men walking, carrying babies asking to send more help. Women holding their children for dear life. The hospitals abandoned patients stuck with no help. Senior citizens cold restless, wanting shelter. Markings on houses and buildings of the number of bodies they found dead.
I remember my family and friends preparing to leave their homes or to shelter in place, after being informed hurricane that Katrina was headed towards New Orleans. Most of them decided to leave and brave the traffic and the long hours of driving. Those who decided to stay and to shelter in place would later state that they would not do it again. Once those of us who evacuated to areas not in the projected
I tried to start the car but it wouldn’t work. I turned my head again
Have you ever wanted to go to Louisiana? I was excited when my dad told me that my parents and I was going. I wanted to try the food there. It was cool going to a different state. I wanted to live there.
In the summer of 2005 Louisiana’s coastline was struck by one of the strongest hurricanes that has ever been, Katrina. A week before the storm was predicted to hit we were having supper together as a family when my dad’s phone rang. I distinctly remember him bowing his head, taking in a deep
I was seven years old when my Mom had told me the bad news that would change my life completely. My mom had told me that are family would be moving from California to North Carolina. Well it was hard to take it in because all of my close relatives lived near the west coast at the time and my mom and dad were split up and it was just me my older sister Samantha, my little brother Evan, my mom Saline, and my step dad Robert. So it was hard thinking that I wouldn’t be able to see them as much.
When people hear stories about Louisiana, they automatically think they are taking place in New Orleans. However, my story takes place in northern Louisiana in a small city called Monroe. I was born in Bastrop, a small town right outside of Monroe. Growing up, Monroe was my favorite place. I didn’t think anywhere else would be as cool as this city itself. I made many memories in the small city, some of which I’ll share with you.