Hurricane Irma proved to be no match for a group of dedicated St. Petersburg High students. 

  • St. Pete High students display dedication during Hurricane Irma
  • AP Calculus students get together during storm to study
  • Students made own classroom to studying for upcoming college-level Calculus test

While dealing with the aftermath of Irma, they kept studying - with and without electricity. With exams coming up as the storm approached, the students made sure they were prepared no matter what happened. 

The group of AP Calculus students in Mrs. Ladd's class know the subject matter is tough. 

"Math is definitely one of my more difficult subjects," said SPHS student Abby Grassick. "I think everyone was panicking a lot of my friends and peers evacuated and a lot of them took their math books because we didn't know what to do."

The students take their studying seriously but when Irma turned its attention to Florida, the group became as worried about family and friends as much as studying.  

But when Irma forced St. Pete High to close down, the students made their own classroom.

Grassick got the class together in an activity room at her grandmother's condo complex. The group spent several hours prepping for a big exam in the spring. 

Teacher Robin Ladd said missing a week plus of school would have set the group behind. 

"It was a traumatic experience for all of us," Ladd said. "And to see that they were OK and dealing with their neighborhoods of cleaning up and helping their neighbors. 

"It was just really neat to be together and know they're OK and then to see that excitement and motivation of wanting to do math."

Besides studying, Grassick said being together gave everyone a sense of support during an uncertain time.

"When you go from seeing someone every day and spending all of your hours and after school studying for all these tests, when something happens like this and you don't have contact with them is really emotionally draining," she said.