- Valeta Stewart-Moore, UMUC Student
English Major, School of Undergraduate Studies
MyUMUC Story:
Valeta Stewart-Moore Rebuilds Her Life After Hurricane Katrina
By: Cheryl Balassone
When Hurricane Katrina was about to hit the Gulf Coast two years ago, Valeta Stewart-Moore and her family packed up their belongings in New Orleans and headed to Maryland to stay with her sister until the storm passed. Today, Stewart-Moore and most of her family remain in Maryland and are still rebuilding their lives after the hurricane destroyed their home, their community, and the only life they had ever known.
Stewart-Moore and her family were among eleven relatives taken in by her sister and her sister’s husband after the storm. The family has been back to New Orleans for several visits since the hurricane, but they say little has been done to rebuild the city. ‘‘It’s two years later, and the only thing that’s up and running is the tourist section,” Stewart-Moore said. At this point, she says she has no plans to return to Louisiana permanently. The family is torn between two worlds: Stewart-Moore, her two sons, and her mother are living in Maryland, but her husband Albert returned to his job in Louisiana. She notes that the geographical separation has been a strain on a family that was always close-knit.
In addition to the comforts of home and the caring community where they lived, the family misses the ‘‘southern hospitality” of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast’s unique array of foods. The cost of living in Maryland is far more expensive than in Louisiana and the difference in cultures required a significant adjustment, as well.
In New Orleans, Stewart-Moore was a full-time student with two semesters remaining at Southern University. After moving to Maryland, she took a position as a preschool teacher. When faced with having to go part-time or quit her job altogether in order to attend school, Stewart-Moore was intrigued when a colleague mentioned online classes offered by UMUC. Today, she still teaches preschool and is a student at UMUC, majoring in English. When she graduates in the spring of 2008, Stewart-Moore plans teach high school English and become a published writer. “I really would like to earn this degree, pass the PRAXIS, and be able to take it all back home where good teachers are desperately needed,” she said. “I have taught preschool for 13 years. I just may go back home and teach some of my preschoolers who would now be in high school. That would be awesome.”
Despite the many obstacles in her path, Stewart-Moore says that some good did come out of the entire ordeal. Her oldest son, A.J., graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in 2007 and her youngest son, Michael, is now a junior. She has a job that she enjoys tremendously. She has a wonderful, supportive family and has met some great people. In particular, she notes the kindness extended by the parishioners at Capital Christian Fellowship, where she remains a member. And, said Stewart-Moore, she is in a good school and close to finally obtaining the degree that she has worked long and hard to achieve.
When asked about her experience at UMUC, Stewart-Moore quickly responded, “The best thing about UMUC is the caring professors that teach there. There are excellent choices in courses. I love the English courses that are offered. My only regret is not enrolling when I arrived here in 2005.”
The last two years have resulted in a transformation for Stewart-Moore. “This experience has opened my eyes to life in general. It has taught me just how valuable life is and how fast it can end,” she said. “As much as I love my 'stuff', I realize that 'stuff' is replaceable and lives are not. I believe that the loss of my home, my community, and all that I’ve known all of my life, have ultimately made me a better person.”
