"To ones deserving more than thanks"

UI senior Alexandra Khoshaba writes:

"I used to think that natural disasters were merely spectacles separated by thousands of miles, and that they were only as real as the pictures that you see on television. Everyone heard about Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in Thailand, and the earthquake in China, but only the people that lived through them can actually feel the magnitude of such a catastrophe. Whoever came up with the term 'Seeing Is Believing' is far more intelligent than anyone I’ve ever known, and it is only when a person becomes a part of something much bigger than themselves can they actually start to look at the world and themselves as a piece of it, a bit differently.

Over the past three weeks I’ve seen thousands of UI students, faculty, and members of the community sandbag the homes and buildings that once contained the sacred artifacts that defined our education. I’ve donated supplies, and we have all made honest attempts at bringing normalcy back to our city. Above all, the most powerful and surprising force present in our community is not the water, but the inherent goodness of the members of our community. Sandbagging, gathering supplies, and contributing money have all been the most publicized form of support, but there is something else that our community needs to know.

So many of us have already spent tireless hours preparing for the flood, but our efforts cannot stop there. Yes the river has crested, class has resumed, and the Ped Mall is full, but there are still people out there that need help. Over the past week I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the courageous residents of Normandy Drive, here in Iowa City, and they have all been more than willing to let a UI student into their crumbling world. Many of the residents of Normandy Drive are professors, retired faculty, and elderly persons who are too kind to ask anyone for help. Take it from me…they need it. I know of a woman who had a heart attack trying to clean out her basement. I also know of a professor who is selflessly continuing on with summer class despite losing the place that her children have called home for their entire lives. Finally, I know that these residents are not getting much needed help and support from various recovery agencies, and are on the verge of losing everything.

Having spent four years at the UI, I know how many professors, business owners, and members of our community have changed my life. I know they have also changed the lives of thousands of others as well. It is not uncommon at The University of Iowa to hear students thanking their professors as they hand in their final exams, but how often do we, as students, actually have a chance to show them that we really mean it? All that you need to enter their secret world is a pair of rubber boots, a tetanus shot, and a big smile. It may sound completely ridiculous to just 'show up ready to work,' but give it five minutes and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

The sights, sounds, and smells lingering on Normandy Drive are absolutely heart-wrenching and the entire area provides a bit of a culture shock. The spirit, motivation, determination, and heart of the neighborhood far outweighs everything else. Unrequited love truly is an amazing gift, but what is more astonishing is returning that very same compassion to the people who deserve more than just a 'Thank You'."