I knew graduate school was going to be an adventure for me, but I never could have predicted that my life would completely change after my first week in south Florida! I was accepted to start in the Rosenstiel School’s (RSMAS) Marine Geology & Geophysics (MGG) graduate program for Fall 1992. I was born in Massachusetts, raised in Connecticut, and completed my undergraduate degree in Pennsylvania. The thought of moving to Miami for the next six years of my life had me nervous and excited, as I packed all I could in my Chevy Cavalier and headed down I-95 in mid-August.
I arrived on Key Biscayne with a week to spare before orientation was to begin, and one of the Marine Science Graduate Student Organization (MSGSO) officers let me sleep on his couch in a house with other RSMAS students. I spent the week looking at apartments with another new MGG student. We hadn’t found a place that week, which was probably a good thing – Hurricane Andrew was set to descend on south Florida.
The day before the official evacuation notice, we hit the road and escaped the University of Miami to … the University of Florida! We stayed in the graduate student zoology house for a week, trying to get news about what was happening in south Florida, and completely unsure of what was next for us. I had been through a few nor’easters in my time, but had no idea what to expect when, after spending a week in Gainsville, we heard that classes were going to start ON TIME at the University. So we had to head back. Back to … the same couch I was sleeping on before, because of the kindness of my MSGSO host.
But this time, while sleeping on a couch with my life’s belongings in my car, I was attending my first graduate courses. The adjustment to living in a hurricane-stricken area was a challenge. Having only been in Miami for a week, it was interesting trying to drive around the city to find stores that were open and had items stocked in their shelves. Academically, there were some amazing opportunities post-hurricane. My classes went to the Everglades and snorkeling in the Keys to assess the damage to the reefs and overall environment. But there was also a reminder of how serious the situation still was. The campus library had cot beds and piles of clothing that I recall stepping over to pull down journal volumes. In fact, the university canceled final exams that semester, stating something along the lines that the students had suffered enough stress during the semester. I learned alot about disaster recovery and about myself during this time.
My story has a happy ending. My friend and I were able to find a house on Key Biscayne to share with a couple of students from UM’s medical school. Sure, there was still no power in half the house, and the carpeting and roof needed to be replaced, but we finally had a place to call “home.” I continued taking courses with some amazing MGG faculty, and had incredible research and field experiences (I’ll always remember Dr. Larry Peterson seeing me in the hallways and in passing saying, “It’s Guertin for certain!”). That new MGG student I evacuated with? She’s my best friend for life. We were bridesmaids in each other’s weddings, actually – she married the MSGSO officer who offered me his couch when I didn’t have a home (he graduated from Marine Biology & Fisheries), and I married a Marine & Atmospheric Chemistry graduate. My husband and I visited the RSMAS campus and other sites of our old stomping grounds from our graduate school days over New Year’s earlier this year. The campus looks a little different, and some of the faculty and staff we knew are no longer at RSMAS. But no hurricane or other disaster will ever be able to take away the wealth of content knowledge, specialized skills sets, and amazing memories I have from my years in MGG at the Rosenstiel School.
Dr. Laura Guertin
Alumni Class of 1998 – Marine Geology & Geophysics
Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, Penn State Brandywine