Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts
#TeamBLACKOUT
What have we done?
On November 13, 2012, we began collecting funds in hand made donation jars. By the end of the week, we raised about $70.
We were able to collaborate with the New York Club, New Jersey Club, Baltimore Club, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Freshman Leadership Academy all at Howard University. Each of these partnering organizations either donated money, volunteers, or public relations to the cause.
On November 17, 2012 at 3:30AM, 27 volunteers boarded a bus in front of Cramton Auditorium in order to travel to Rockaway, New Jersey and assist in Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts. Upon arrival, members of Operation Sandy and Respond and Rebuild greeted us. They equipped us with boots, gloves, tools, and other supplies. They split us into teams, and from there, we went to different houses in the neighborhood in order to clean out the damaged rooms and tear down the soiled walls. #TeamBLACKOUT worked from 10:00AM until 4:00PM. We arrived back to campus at around 9:30PM the same day.
What is the next step?
Initially, we wanted to come to Operation Sandy bearing gifts. The people whose homes we went to clean out are without hot water, electricity, and other essentials. The local stores are all without as well. The town does not have an ATM or take EBT. Care package items would have greatly assisted the community. This is what prompted the conversation of still having a party where we grant admission if people brought comfort kit items.
What many people fail to realize is that despite the fact that the storm happened a month ago, families are still in need of comfort kit items, aid, and other forms of relief. #TeamBLACKOUT is excited to hear what you think about all this, and even more excited to see how we can further assist the victims of the storm. The directors and I would the opportunity to help in the future.
In leaving for school I realize several things. I realize that fear of the unknown and where life will lead is real. I realize that I really never may see some of the people that mean the most to me ever again. This is not out of my own accord, but because life presents situations that may prevent reunions from occurring. I realize tears will be shed. I realize there are not enough hours before the flight to truly say “goodbye.”
The scary part is saying goodbye. Riding through the city for what may very well be the last time. Moving to a city with bigger and better things to offer does present the opportunity to never look back. “You will come back for Christmas break” they say. “You will come back for holidays.” The scary part is not knowing for certain if that is true.
Regardless of whether you are coming back are not, there is some advice of “farewells” that I would like to share. The things I did, I should of done, and regret not doing.
Things I did:
1. Farewell Journal
A farewell journal is a composition notebook, or notebook of any sort, that your friends write your fondest memories and say their ‘good byes” or “see ya laters” in. It acts like a year book without the pictures. I think the journal is more personal. Friends feel more comfortable writing in it. They also are not as limited for space. It is more of a book that you can keep if you are like me and do not want to ruin your yearbook or cannot afford one.
2. Made rounds
When it came down to leaving, I had people to see and places to go. My best friend and I went to dinner and then made our rounds. Sometimes the sweetest visits are the unexpected ones. The day prior to leaving, gas up the car and go see your friends. Make sure to have your farewell journal handy. Go to your favorite local frozen yogurt place for the last time and fill it to the brim. Savor each bite.
3. SAY/DO
This is one of those YOLO moments where you get off your chest all of the feelings you have. Let your friends know you love them by actually saying it. Give them a long hug. And for those of you with significant others, a long kiss. Make sure to express your feelings 100% or you will leave feeling incomplete. I got so much off of my chest the night before I left that I went to sleep feeling empty. Empty is a nice feeling to have sometimes. When the weight is lifted and the emotions are out, you can truly leave in peace.
Things I should have done:
1. Let people know.
Unlike several of my friends, I had an early departure. Some of my closest friends had no idea of when I was leaving and the departure date crept up out of no where. Nothing hurts more than being notified by Twitter or Facebook that a good friend is leaving in a day or two. Even worse is being notified hours before. Despite the business of your schedule prior to leaving, personally sending a text or call to let people know when you leave is important. I made the mistake of posting it to social networks and putting the responsibility on my friends to know when I leave. This prevented me from saying a proper goodbye to several.
2. Pack
This is self explanatory. Do not be like me. I was still packing up until I got everything in the car. Packing for college is a process that truly takes weeks. Not one night. Things got left behind that I really wanted. Chargers, toiletries, clothing items, shoes, sunglasses, jewelry were all lost in the chaos.
3. Clean
I left my room a mess.. I wish I would have hid a couple things a little better as well. Haha. Don't be surprised if you come back to a room totally wiped out of any sign of you. But no seriously, after you pack, strip your bed and wash your sheets. You should vacuum and fold up your clothes. Make it easier on your parents and future company.
Regrets
In all the chaos of packing, seeing friends, and getting ready, I really regret one thing. I neglected my family. As I write this I am crying for my mom. I know I know, I seriously have only been here a day and I miss her so much. I did not even spend my last night in my house. My last day home, my friends were turning up at my house from 10 AM until 4PM even as I departed. There was no time at all my last week to sit with my mom. Let me rephrase that, I didn’t make time. I did not save space or room for the person who means the most. Even as I got out the car and went to the airport our hug was short and artificial because I was late for my flight. It really hurts. I did notsee my brother, who I have not seen in ages. I did not see my grandparents. I did not see my aunts. I did not see my uncles. It hurts be sent off improperly by family. However, it happened, and that is the main regret that I have.
Despite my regrets, my advice, if taken, should heed an enjoyable departure. Do not be afraid to shed a tear or two for who or what you are leaving behind. It is a natural process for someone going into something new. Although I did not shed tears while leaving, the tears shed for me where deeply appreciated.
College will be so exciting. It will provide so much knowledge and experience in this world that I am eager to explore. Looking forward to taking this journey. Through my blog, I hope to help you as well.
LEAVE A COMMENT:
Extra advice for incoming freshmen?
How was your experience preparing for college?
Now that Christmas break is here, I finally have a chance to reflect on how I am going to change for the upcoming year. Of course, everyone knows about New Year’s resolutions. And, of course, everyone knows that no one ever keeps them. So, instead of making a list of resolutions, I am going to make a toast to the New Year and outline the areas in life that I believe many people need help in! So CHEERS to the New Year’s!
*tink tink tink (raises glass and stands)
Here is to going into the New Year transformed
Standing out and being different
Showing people the change
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
OPEN MIND
Here is to talking to new people
Being acquaintances with different social groups without getting caught up in any
Gaining others trust yet trusting very few
BE WISE
STAY SELECTIVE
Here is to staying on top of all studies
Not letting the stress of school get in the way
Being able to start on an assignment sooner than the day before it’s due
STAY FOCUSED
NO DISTRACTIONS
Here is to erasing everything that happened in the past
Moving on from tough situations
Learning from previous mistakes
MOVE FORWARD
NO REGRETS
Thanks to all who have made this past year delightful! Thanks, in advance, to all who will contribute to making the future bright.
HURRAH HURRAH and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
*drinks from glass and sits*
If you are in college, Please read this and leave advice and feedback in the comments. If not, It is just beginning to dawn on me that this is it. We are on our way to becoming adults. In a few months, we will be on our own in a new city, a new state even. The rules will be different. The people will be different. It is quite unnerving, but at the same time, thrilling. I am excited for the new endeavor.
Even still, I cannot help but think about all the people I will miss. Most of my friends are people who I have been raised with at least half of my life. It will be hard to know that I cannot just call them and ask them to come over or hang out.
On the other hand, I will have the opportunity to put all the negative people of my past out of my mind. I will no longer have to hide who I am in an effort to please or fit in. I can leave the past in the past and move forward.
I look at this as a chance to grow. A chance to start over and be EXACTLY the person I want to be. With no one to say how I use to be, it will be easy to define my new self. I can be who I am with no thought.
With that being said, for all of you who may have a stigma to your name or feel that you cannot escape the label that you have made for yourself in your high school careers. Here is to college! The opportunity to start a new with no pressure to suppress who you really are.
Embrace the journey. And don’t be afraid to journey alone. You may be able to uncover things about yourself that you never knew existed.
At this point, my head is ready to explode. I have been absent from school so much these past few months and I am still trying to catch up. I have been blessed with opportunity after opportunity and I have seized every single one of them. I participated on the Senator Clayborne Bus Tour as well as the Global leadership Connection. Both events took me out of school for a week and I am paying the price for that academically.As far as trigonometry goes, KILL ME NOW! Political Science is a pain. Barely peaking my head over the pile of Psychology homework accumulating. Taking two foreign languages, fourth year Spanish and first year french. This list really does go on.
I try my hardest not to complain but it gets soooooooo hard! I put myself in this position. I'm so involved at school. I'm up at 1 a.m. blogging. I am the problem lol. No matter how involved I get in school, I always set a clear priority for my life. No one can do EVERYTHING but at the same time, I don't make it easier on myself by slacking. No one made it through life take the easy road.
|
RSS Feed