I was a sophomore in high school when Katrina hit. I remember the day before I was driving home from New Orleans School of the Creative Arts with no idea what was in store for me. My family lived in Mandeville during that time. My father had retired from the NOPD about six years prior to the storm, and wanted to get away from the city for a while.\r\n We initially evacuated to Vicksburg, Mississippi with the mindset that nothing would really happen. It was usually a false alarm. The power went out soon after we arrived at the hotel. We lived by candle light for three days before we decided to pack up everything and head west. At this point, we still didn\'t know what was going on back home. Radio transmissions were non existent. We had no idea if our house was evening standing. No one was being allowed back into southeastern Louisiana. We lived in Dallas for three months in a two bedroom with five people and two dogs. I know we had it better than a majority of people.\r\n I wanted to continue my theatre education. NOCCA was transferring their students all over the United States so they would be able to do just that. The time came where it was between San Diego and Miami. I chose Miami since they didn\'t focus so much on dance. I lived with a family that volunteered to take me in. I was their refugee, their transplant. I never felt at home there. While I do appreciate what they were trying to do for me, I was constantly being bombarded to tell \"my story. It was a sea of endless questions... \"Are you okay?\", \"Are you depressed?\" I just wanted to be left alone.\r\n A tree fell through my house. It only flooded a few inches but I remember walking around on concrete for a long time because we couldn\'t afford carpet. Rita was heading towards Miami when I discovered my dad was getting a second heart surgery. Doctors were doubtful he\'d make it this time. I hurried home to Louisiana, and I stayed there for good. Everything turned out well for my dad, but it still took a while for everything to go back to \"normal. Whatever that is.\r\n