Being a light in the dark!

My name is Jordan Kirby, I am 18 years old, and go to Bay High School in Panama City, Florida. As this school year starts back on August 12th, we have many kids eager to make this school year the best one yet. As many know, we were struck by the category 5 hurricane known as, Hurricane Michael. This hurricane destroyed our town, destroyed many families and kids lives, and we are no where near recovered. Our last school year was cut in half, all of our schools were damaged, and we were experiencing a school-year that we never expected. It was one of the hardest times for students, teachers, families, etc, as we are trying to find our way back to a normal school year, which still hasn't been accomplished. My school, Bay High School, is still terribly damaged, and construction has just recently started. All of our classes have moved into portables on school grounds, and all of us seniors are finishing our last year of high school out of portables. Many students attending my school, including myself, have lost their homes, their personal belongings, and many significant objects that made up their lives due to this hurricane and are still waiting on FEMA and insurance adjustors to make it right again. I have lost long-time friends who went to my high school due to the fact of their house was destroyed, and after the hurricane housing was extremely expensive, and families couldn't afford it after the other necessary purchases they were having to make. My high school is a tight-knit family, and we all care about each other very deeply, and many of us have come together to try to figure out ways we can help cover senior expenses, and make up for the school year we had last year by holding fundraisers, asking for donations, and doing everything in our power to minimize senior expenses for our fellow peers, as many people are still financially struggling due to Hurricane Michael. At the end of this year, we are expecting to go to GradBash in Orlando, and we are doing everything in our power to make it less expensive for our students, so everyone is able to let-go of the different stress we are all experiencing and come together as the Class of 2020, and have a good time as our farewell to high school. With this being said, we are reaching out in hopes that you could help our senior class get to GradBash. Not to mention, Panama City's suicide rate ranked third in the state of Florida before Hurricane Michael, but now the issue of mental health has magnified following the storm. We are trying to bring some positivity and something to look for to for our Seniors, and anything would help. This money is evenly, and directly put forward to each seniors expenses in hopes that it will make it less expensive and give the opportunity for a peer to go. The money will be withdrawn from GoFundMe into the Bay High Senior Account, and taken out by our sponsor to evenly disperse among the seniors accounts. The images below of what our school looked like a few days after the storm, and what we are trying to build-back from. 
By the numbers, 
Bay High School is the 2nd most damaged school in the county
Bay High School has lost 30% of our schools population 
3, 679 students no longer attend BDS as a result of the hurricane 
12.4 million dollars were lost in revenue from decreased enrollment
24.8 million dollars is expected to be lost from decreased enrollment

Making the switch to Bay High School was one of the best decisions of my life, as for many others, and we have the most resilient group of students, that through all the tragedy we never lost hope. We are the Class of 2020.
 
Thank you for your time, anything would help!!

Its Better at Bay!
Jordan Kirby 
A Senior Class Rep

Bay High School 
1200 Harrison Avenue
Panama City, Florida 32401