Choir, just like many activities such as cheer and football, can be a safe place for many students. Choir can be the one hour in a day when a student can be themself and take part in one of their favorite things. Throughout the years, students make so many memories in choir. Unforgettable events like the trips to Cedar Point, as well as bigger trips to Chicago and Nashville are things choir students look forward to and later remember with joy. Choir students make many friends along the way – people who also revel in the love of music and harmony. It’s very hard to move on from something that has provided so much happiness, but knowing those memories are permanent makes it a smidge easier.
This year was freshman Amiah Dinnan’s very first year in choir. With this year coming to an end, she feels very good about how it went, and she’s super excited to move up to the next level of choir, which is the Acappella group. When asked what makes her want to keep on moving forward with choir, Dinnan stated, “ I have a passion for singing.” Dinnan’s favorite memory of choir this year is going to festival. Dinnan left a final note for the seniors in choir: “Your new life on your own is just starting; don’t let the same things get in your way; this is just the beginning.”
Junior, Sydney Marsh has a lot of feelings about this year coming to an end. She explains that she is upset because it is often her favorite class, and she misses her fellow peers over the summer. Marsh synthesizes, “The reason I want to join choir again is not just because of the class, it is because of the people in it as well. I really care about everyone in our class, and I love being a part of the group. This year choir has pushed me to do things I never thought I could do, and I’ve seen my improvement since the beginning of the year.”
Choir truly can be a class to come out of your comfort zone and grow as a person. Marsh’s favorite memory from this year is festival. The reason why this is her favorite is because it’s something serious and something that she worked so hard for throughout the whole year. She ends off this memory by saying, “When we finished festival at the end of the day, it felt like we were all closer and I really enjoyed going to Culver’s and eating with my classmates.”
Marsh also leaves off with a last quote for the seniors, “I know every senior in my acap class are going to do amazing things with their life, they are all so talented and are role models for me every day. So my advice would be to keep persistent and always do your best because you never know who is looking up to you and following in your footsteps.”
Junior, Sophia Hinojosa also feels disappointed that this year is coming to an end. Hinojosa explains, “I’m going to miss singing with all my choir friends and making enjoyable memories together and I will definitely miss all of our silly jokes I hear every day. Choir has always been my favorite class and will forever be my favorite class.”
Hinojosa plans to continue with choir through her senior year. She states, “What pushes me to keep on taking choir each year is there was never a time I felt stressed. Throughout all of the years, the main thing is, I can be myself. I have always loved singing and it will always have a special place in my heart. I could keep going on forever why I keep doing choir, overall it’s a easy class and there has always been good vibes in choir.”
Hinojosa’s favorite memory was festival and celebrating their achievement of a 1-star. Hinojosa’s final words to her fellow seniors in choir are, “The words I would like to say to our seniors is that every single one of you have so many great things coming ahead for you. I believe that all of you will have a great future filled with happiness, and I hope choir will forever be a precious memory you will always have. You will be missed by all of our choir friends, just hope you will forever keep singing your souls out and think of choir whenever you’re out there in the big world singing whatever and wherever.”
Senior, Emily Callahan is excited for her next steps, but sad to leave the Kearsley Choir world behind. One thing Callahan will miss are all the opportunities for her to sing and perform. When asked what her favorite memory from any year she was in choir, she explains, “My favorite memory was the senior potluck last year, the seniors who graduated last year I was very close with. I hold a deep part of my heart for them.” Callahan leaves her fellow underclassmen with these wise words. “Take every opportunity you can get out there. There are so many chances to perform, so soak it all up while you can.”
On that note, choir has made an impact for many here at Kearsley. Usually, the art part of school gets left out or not thought of, but really, it can be the one reason a person keeps going. When you’re in a choir, you’re really in a team. You work hard throughout the year and improve together. Yes, choir coming to an end is very sad, but there are also new opportunities to look forward to, and the support of your fellow choirmates will always be there.
