Hi, I\'m a student at GMU, and even though I have never lived in New Orleans, I was still deeply affected because part of my fanily lived in New Orleans at the time of Katrina. Luckily, they had come to Virginia to live one week before the hurrican hit, but everything in their house and most of their possesions were still in New Orleans. I will never forget the look of sadness on my cousins face when they got a phone call saying that at least 80% of all their belongings had been destroyed. It made me realize how short life is and how your whole life can be turned upside down in less than a day. Even though it was very sad that they lost everything, it made the family realize that the most important thing in life is family, and not material possesions. Ever since the hurricane they have re-built their lives in Virginia but we are alot closer now as a family. The hurrican brought us closer, but it\'s sad to think that something like that had to happen for us to realize how important good family and friendships are in life. I keep all of the people that are still recovering in my prayers.