Holiday Plans Despite The California Wildfires
By: Celeste Herron
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Student Life
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The flames in California do not stand a chance in destroying the holidays for students from California.
Clark Atlanta University students who hail from California agree that the fires are destroying so much land but it is not going to dampen their holiday cheer, rather, it is making them that much more grateful.
"I feel that it is a very unfortunate situation and that it was extremely ignorant for someone to start the fires. However, I am grateful that my family has not been harmed by them," Earl Mercadel, a junior said.
Southern California has been battling the raging flames of many fires since Oct. 21. Over 1500 homes have been destroyed and at least half a million people have been displaced from their homes in search of safety elsewhere.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, students express their concern for the upcoming holiday.
"I am planning on going home for Christmas," Empress Varnado, also a junior said.
The fact that many of CAU student's families have not been directly affected by the fires are more blessings to count and to be thankful for this holiday.
"I am most definitely taking full advantage of being able to go home for all holidays," Mercadel said with a grin.
Other student's who are unable to return home for each holiday, anticipate Christmas break so that they can spend time with their families. Although they have not been affected by the fires, as far as having to be displaced, they have not forgotten about those from their home city who have been affected.
"Those who have been affected- have been drastically…no homes to eat Thanksgiving dinner at or a home to celebrate Christmas," D'Chell Crayton, a sophomore from San Diego reflects.
With the fires being so close to student's homes, it has caused a sense of compassion and empathy to go out to those who have lost homes and their own sense of security that they once felt. Because the fires are yet and still so close to home, students still are concerned about how things may turn out.
"My mom and family are straight but it could always spread to my side of town. I'm not going to let it stress me out though-my family is in God's hands," Hasani Ellis, a junior said.
The fires may be raging and destroying many things in California, but it is evident that students holiday spirits are not broken by the tragedy of the wildfires.
Clark Atlanta University students who hail from California agree that the fires are destroying so much land but it is not going to dampen their holiday cheer, rather, it is making them that much more grateful.
"I feel that it is a very unfortunate situation and that it was extremely ignorant for someone to start the fires. However, I am grateful that my family has not been harmed by them," Earl Mercadel, a junior said.
Southern California has been battling the raging flames of many fires since Oct. 21. Over 1500 homes have been destroyed and at least half a million people have been displaced from their homes in search of safety elsewhere.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, students express their concern for the upcoming holiday.
"I am planning on going home for Christmas," Empress Varnado, also a junior said.
The fact that many of CAU student's families have not been directly affected by the fires are more blessings to count and to be thankful for this holiday.
"I am most definitely taking full advantage of being able to go home for all holidays," Mercadel said with a grin.
Other student's who are unable to return home for each holiday, anticipate Christmas break so that they can spend time with their families. Although they have not been affected by the fires, as far as having to be displaced, they have not forgotten about those from their home city who have been affected.
"Those who have been affected- have been drastically…no homes to eat Thanksgiving dinner at or a home to celebrate Christmas," D'Chell Crayton, a sophomore from San Diego reflects.
With the fires being so close to student's homes, it has caused a sense of compassion and empathy to go out to those who have lost homes and their own sense of security that they once felt. Because the fires are yet and still so close to home, students still are concerned about how things may turn out.
"My mom and family are straight but it could always spread to my side of town. I'm not going to let it stress me out though-my family is in God's hands," Hasani Ellis, a junior said.
The fires may be raging and destroying many things in California, but it is evident that students holiday spirits are not broken by the tragedy of the wildfires.
