March 19, 2018, was any other normal day for me in the life of Brooklyn. I slept in till about 12 because that's what I devoted my spring break too. I had no homework that needed to be caught up due to my amazing professors finishing things right up right before so I was resting. After resting all day, I got dressed for my 5 to 10:30 close shift at the good ole Cracker Barrel in Oxford, Alabama. .

I say goodbye to my apartment not knowing it'll be the last time, get down there and we are dead. Me and my co-worker who is also a friend, Amberly, wonder why it is so dead and then come to find out we have a chance of severe weather.

We kind of chuckle because every time there is a chance of severe weather there is usually just some rain. I still am kind of antsy because I kind of get paranoid thinking about tornadoes, but that usually never happens here in good ole Calhoun County.

Around 8 or 9 or so ( I can't remember the exact time because I wasn't on my phone much due to work ) I get a text message. Jacksonville State sends out little memos when things are going on in the area to inform students. The text message from them said, Tornado Warning.

I am thankful that I am in Oxford and at work but I get anxious for my friends, my boyfriend, and the community. I shrug it off though because usually the past few times there has been a chance of a tornado, it usually just stays into a thunderstorm. Literally maybe 5-10 minutes later I get another text that states, "Tornado on the ground. Take immediate shelter."

My heart sinks in the middle of my stomach and I get terrified for everyone. Also at that same time, my phone is being blown up by everyone checking on me. I am shaking at this point, tornadoes give me bad anxiety. After a couple of minutes, the first thing I see is the Coliseum is damaged.

I get very worried then because my apartment was park place I which is literally right across the street. It takes a while until I see a post saying that park place I was damaged and I freak out. I talk to the person who posted it and there was mostly siding and roof damaged and my apartment building wasn't that bad in shape.

That made me kind of relieved, but as more information came in, I was heartbroken for so many of the people I know. Multiple of my friends lived in the reserve, Gamecock Village, and Winn place. Also some of the places on campus and even residents of Jacksonville. I am lucky because my family stays 15-20 minutes away, but others not so much. A lot of people lost everything.

My friend Amberly took me to my apartment after it taking us 45 minutes to get to that part of Jacksonville. I was able to go in and get some clothes and my expensive stuff but wasn't worried about everything due to not knowing the shape of my apartment. That night I literally couldn't sleep due to me processing everything that had happened and the pain I had felt. Jacksonville is like my family and it took a toll on me. I was mentally exhausted.

After staying at Amberly's that night, I end up going to my moms to wait for what will be done with my apartment. After 3 weeks I find out the power boxes got completely messed up and there was no way I could live in there, which kind of put me in a frenzy because that is very stressful.

I also couldn't complain too much because I was very thankful to not lose a car or my belongings. I was luckily able to get a better apartment with a pretty good roommate in a months span! So it all worked out, but it was a stressful time.

I am just now getting wifi and getting settled into my apartment now and it is going well so far! When things happen out of nowhere they take you by surprise but it all works out. I was also shocked to find out the tornado was classified as an EF3. Like WOW!

Also, The way this town bounced right back is truly phenomenal to me. All the acts of kindness and donations truly warm my heart. I literally cried about it one night because I am sensitive and it was just so heartwarming. We are truly Jacksonville Strong and we stick together as a family.

Getting evicted by a tornado sucks, but it all worked out in the end.