Still, Luna’s life at UTSA is fraught with uncertainty. She doesn’t know what will happen to her credits from UNO or when she’ll be able to graduate.

“We have no idea at this point what’s going to transfer over,” she said. “I have no idea if I’m going to be set back. I’ll probably be set back at least a semester.”

Luna has emotional stress to deal with as well. She was a junior at UNO, at home on campus, always surrounded by friends. Now, she finds herself on a strange campus with nothing, separated from those she loves and unsure of the future.

“You just kind of feel like you’re the only fish in the shark tank,” she said.

Luna’s friends from UNO are scattered throughout the country. A few have chosen to take the semester off. She says they are all struggling with similar issues.

“We were taken out of our comfort zone,” she said. “And not only were we taken out of our comfort zone, we were taken out with the bare minimums.”

Financial concerns are paramount, as Luna has to buy everything from books to bed-sheets. Her ATM card still isn’t working, so she’s had to rely on family and the generosity of the community.

Even accepting help can be a challenge.

“It’s a strange situation to be in. You feel hopeless but you don’t want to be hopeless. You don’t want to be needy, but you are,” Luna said. “You’re not used to having to ask [for help].

“Even if people try to make us feel comfortable, it’s not. If you don’t have your family and friends around you it’s hard to find the strength to keep going.”

The future is daunting. If the hurricane has taught her anything, it’s that life can change in a matter of hours, and thoughtful planning can quickly be rendered obsolete. But even in the face of uncertainty, Luna is cautiously beginning to think about a life in San Antonio.

“I hope I can finish here and that this will be my alma mater in a couple years,” she said. “I would like to be a part of the community here and be a teacher and give back to the people here that have given to me thus far.”

Even after all she’s been through, there is no trace of defeat in Luna’s voice, with its faint Southern accent. Even as she speaks about her loss, her loneliness and her fear, she seems to believe, deep down, that she’ll be ok.

“We live off of hope,” she said.