Recap on a Crazy Semester

I started off this semester thinking, “Wow senior year is going to fly by. Then what?” I thought I’d do all of my assigned readings, turn my papers in on time (maybe even early) and have a wonderful balanced life. I mean, I had made it this far. Why couldn’t all of those Hallmark, puke-worthy moments become a reality?

Hurricane Florence first made landfall on September 14th. Over the course of three days this hurricane pounded the Carolinas. People lost their homes, their jobs, their belongings, and some even their loved ones. Thankfully all I lost was a month of school and some siding.

This week I have seven assignments due and I want to pull out my hair. I am at a solid 7-8 on the Stress-O-Meter. I had to cancel my birthday celebration and multiple dates with my boyfriend because I am drowning in homework.

I was feeling pretty down, and then reality struck. It’s currently late November and I’ve done most of my Christmas shopping (yes, some of it was done in class). I made a budget and I was able to stick to it, and everyone on my list is getting at least something.

Not everyone in Wilmington is that lucky.

I helped my neighbor register her relief debit card. She lost her job during the hurricane and is raising her great granddaughter on her own. The relief fund provided $207. When I told her the balance she cried. She said it was the first year in a long time she’d be able to get her great granddaughter anything for Christmas. The damaged home could wait a little longer for repairs.

My semester is going to end in the next two weeks. I did not do all (or even half) of my assigned readings. I turned all of my papers in on time, but none of them were early and most were written the day they were due. I managed to lose a hat, a water bottle, and three random socks (I blame the dryer monster for that one). But I have my home, my dogs, and my supportive friends. There is peanut butter in my cabinet so I won’t go hungry, and my heater works.

This semester was not in any way how I thought it would be. Hallmark would never show this movie; the SciFi channel might though.

If this semester has taught me anything it would be that people are strong. Hurricane Florence took everything away from so many people. Yet, at the end of November those who lost so much are still primarily worried about getting their children Christmas gifts.

Yeah. I’m stressed. And yes, finals are coming. But at the end of the day, this semester taught me what really matters.

Written by Shannon Bradburn, PR Officer