ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Recently, Ari Cohen and three fellow seniors from Asheville High School spent a Friday afternoon playing UNO at his residence, surrounded by a stack of bottled water in the living room. The group, like many students in Asheville, has experienced weeks away from the classroom due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, which left a significant tree precariously resting against Cohen’s house. With cell and internet services unreliable, local students have resorted to various ways to occupy their time, from volunteering and exploring hurricane-affected areas to enjoying board games together.
“We’ve been hanging out pretty much every single day,” shared Nathaniel Durham, one of Cohen’s friends. “We haven’t gotten sick of each other yet though.” The hurricane has had a profound impact on education across western North Carolina. The timing is particularly challenging for high school seniors, who are navigating critical life choices, including college applications and decisions about their futures, all while trying to make lasting memories in their final year of high school amid the distressing circumstances caused by the storm.
Some families have evacuated and temporarily enrolled their children in schools outside of Asheville. For those working on college applications, the lack of internet and transportation has made the process even more complicated. Additionally, for some students who were uncertain about pursuing higher education, the upheaval has introduced additional hurdles.
Hurricane Helene’s aftermath began impacting the area around September 27. As the largest city in North Carolina’s mountains, Asheville found itself largely isolated when roads were either washed away or blocked due to mudslides. As of Thursday, six school districts in western North Carolina remained closed, according to state reports.
The Asheville City Schools system plans to reopen with reduced, four-hour school days starting Monday. Superintendent Maggie Fehrman indicated that the district is looking into options such as drilling wells and providing restroom trailers as the city’s water system continues to be repaired. In a related note, Buncombe County Schools also had plans to resume classes on Friday, albeit with a two-hour delay.
Despite classes resuming, doubt looms for students like Cohen. He had intended to graduate early to recuperate from hip surgery set for December. While that plan remains his goal, he is uncertain how the recent events will affect his timeline.
For Max Schantz, the urgency of a college scholarship application loomed ominously just days after the storm’s arrival. A senior at the School of Inquiry & Life Sciences in Asheville, he found himself without internet or cell service. To work on his essays, he ventured to a library with Wi-Fi where about 80 others were also waiting outside for internet access. After a few days, Schantz and his family moved to Miami so his father could work remotely, further complicating his application process. Fortunately, he learned that the application deadline had been extended while he was at a rest stop checking his email.
Contemplating whether to address the hurricane’s ramifications on Asheville in his application, Schantz ultimately decided to include that narrative after wrestling with the thought for some time. “It was really difficult because I didn’t know if a college admissions officer would want to hear that or not,” he admitted.
Although school buildings were shut down, both Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools organized in-person sessions in October to assist students with the college admissions process. Counselors provided support in essay writing, completing financial aid applications, and utilizing the Common App platform.
Abe Garry, another friend of Cohen’s, found the in-person sessions helpful. He expressed concern about securing teacher recommendations on time for his applications but noted that many colleges have shown understanding toward students from western North Carolina during this crisis. However, he faced another hurdle when Helene led to the cancellation of his SAT retake, which he had hoped would improve his score. “I was frustrated just because I think that if I did do good, it could have definitely helped me out,” he expressed.
The current upheaval isn’t a stranger to these seniors, who have previously experienced the isolating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Caroline Barton remarked that life hasn’t returned to normal since the pandemic, and the hurricane has increased this feeling. Battling feelings of survivor’s guilt, knowing her home remained intact while others suffered damage, she has found comfort in discussing these feelings with her teachers. “I don’t know anyone who has died. My family is safe. Our house is OK. Our backyard is somewhat OK. We have cars that work. But I’m definitely not OK,” Barton stated.
Returning to school, many seniors were feeling the weight of stress exacerbated by the college admissions process. Barton, who competes in cross country and track, had to postpone a recruiting trip to an Ivy League institution due to a canceled flight following the hurricane. Despite the setback, she knew she would eventually visit the school, yet many of her classmates remained anxious about their application timelines.
Despite the adversities brought by Helene, Nathan Flaherty, another senior at Asheville High School, found silver linings in the midst of hardship. What he once viewed as a mere requirement for college applications, volunteering has now become a meaningful part of his daily life. Witnessing the community’s resilience has offered him hope. Furthermore, Flaherty mentioned that his career aspirations might change post-graduation; while initially thinking about pilot training, he is now contemplating a blend of aviation with emergency management.
As for Schantz, reflecting on the lost month of his senior year is challenging. Preparing to return to Asheville, he is mentally bracing for an entirely different reality: “It was just a really fun time before, and I don’t know if it will ever get back to that level of just enjoyment,” he said.