Two New Orleans Students Return Home Others Adjust Despite Distance, Hardships
By Zoe Gorman ‘09
News Staff Reporter
Back in New Orleans things are still looking rough. Here at Choate, however, where eight students from New Orleans were given admission in light of Hurricane Katrina, the situation is much brighter.
Two of the students from New Orleans have already left Choate and although the students still here have said that they have enjoyed their time so far, they are still having difficulties adjusting to the abrupt cultural change.
Choate has offered each of the students admission for one year and the admissions office will reexamine their cases for next year. Most of the students plan to stay for the year and then return home. Others are unsure about whether they plan to stay for longer, or even leave earlier.
Laurel Neveu ’07 left early because she didn’t feel very comfortable at Choate. Friends say that she had told them that it just wasn’t the place for her. The school she had previously attended finally reopened so she returned to her friends and family around Thanksgiving.
Chris Alexander ’08 left for other personal reasons that were not commented upon by Ms. Mary Pashley, Director of Community Service; Ms. Amy Salot, Director of Residential Life and Associate Dean of Students; or by any of the students.
“It was hard because I had to leave my family. But I’m adjusted to it now, and I like the place,” said Johari Antoine ’08 better known as Cookie. “After I’ve seen my family, it is really hard to come back here, but I have to get over it and grow up.”
“Their experience will vary, has varied not because they’re from New Orleans but because they are six or eight totally different individuals,” commented Ms. Salot, “If you take any collection of Choate students some are going to be happier here than others. I think these kids in particular had a more challenging adjustment.”
Ms. Salot pointed out that the students from New Orleans had to make a big change in their lives right after a traumatic event for their entire family; it was also a very sudden and shocking transition. She also expressed how fortunate she felt to have been involved with these students: “The hurricane was a terrible disaster but it blew these kids into my life.”
Ms. Pashley also felt sympathetic toward what the students had to go through. “I believe they have felt embraced by the community but continue to find aspects of Choate life challenging,” she said. “Remember, our newest members to this community are here under exceptional circumstances and may have a much larger learning curve in every setting than our traditional students at this school. I applaud their courage for leaving their families and familiar surroundings in order to be here.”
One aspect of Choate that was difficult for the New Orleans students and for all new students was the workload. “The school work is awful. Someone needs to address that,” remarked Austin Rees ’08. “I’m really adjusting to it because when I first got here I was like okay I’m not going to be able to do this,” commented Cookie.
Austin also expressed a wish to be allowed to move his exam times so that he could go back to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. In contrast, Cookie said, “I don’t really want to go back to New Orleans because it’s depressing.”
Right now, the people of New Orleans are still struggling to rebuild their homes, their families, and their lives.
“We’re hanging in there,” remarked Cookie, whose house had been completely washed under water, “We still have a lot of damage to the houses and people in the community are trying to clean it up, but they have a lot of work to do. They [FEMA] take a long time to respond to you.”
Austin took a slightly more hopeful spin on the situation. “The city is slowly coming along. We are finally getting some good local leadership and we are expecting a new governor as well. I have no doubt New Orleans will be back to normal in no time.”
Just as everyone hopes for a successful recovery in New Orleans, Choate also wishes that the students from there have a memorable stay here.
“Our hope is that by the end of this experience, however long that is, these special students grow as individuals and feel somewhat changed by our community’s impact on them. I have faith that they will be better equipped to handle what lies ahead for them as a result of their time spent with us,” said Ms. Pashley.
