Monday was truly a day of shows. Showing family and friends what a parade was, showing the campus off (part of it, at least), and finally the USAFA Show Choir's Grad Show! To start the morning off, I took my parents, sister, and Mrs. Hope up to the squadron before escorting them down to the parade field. The rest of the family took the day to go zip lining. I told them that the Grad Show was the most important thing for the day and that Tuesday would be much more exciting and important, so I was glad they were checking out some of what Colorado has to offer. First stop, Cadet Squadron 16, Proud Chickenhawks!!!
My room, 5F41, and my name plate. I was the Squadron Executive Officer for my last semester handling paperwork and helping the boss (the squadron commander) out!
A map of the US in our squadron with all the hometowns of the cadets.
There's Collinsville!
After I escorted the family to the parade field, Stillman Field, I headed back up to get in place for the parade. This was the Organizational Awards Parade, recognizing squadrons that had done well for the past academic year. It also gave Fall Leadership the opportunity to march the squadrons and wing in front of their families. To me, it was just another old parade! I reminded myself, though, that this was the last parade I would do for a long while (probably forever) because the Graduation Parade is different from this parade.
Since I am short, I get to march at the back left corner. Not sure if you can see me well, but I'm there!
There I am, just after passing the reviewing stand!
Side note: If you aren't careful and if the field is muddy, you should hold on to your shoes. Seriously. I have passed shoes before where people just marched right out from them. Thankfully, I never lost a shoe in a parade!
After the parade, I had a little bit of time to spend with the family before we had to part ways until the evening. I was super excited about this time because this is when the USAF Thunderbirds usually arrive on the scene. Sure enough shortly after we made it up to the terrazzo, here they came; zipping and zooming all over the Academy! I mean, it's like they treat it as their playground. They are low and fast. Low enough to pass below the chapel spires as they zoom past the mountains. I am telling you, I am like a kid in a candy store when they arrive. I had been that way for the past few years (sorry 2013), and this time was no different. Except this time I realized they were here for MY graduation. MINE! I was so excited that I had a moment. Because flying with this team is one of my goals and dreams for my Air Force career, I got a bit emotional. It's something that you always dream of happening and then when it happens it kind of takes you by surprise. I had been working for the past 5 years to get to graduation and I always dreamed that they'd be here for mine. And here it was, the Monday before MY graduation, zipping and zooming around. Plus, like I said it is a huge goal and dream of mine to fly one of those jets, so just even more motivation for my Air Force career that was about to begin in just a short 48 hours! Needless to say, these 15-20 minutes were amazing!
PLANES!
WEE!
See, just a bit lower than the chapel spires. A few of them were a bit lower at times too!
Probably the last time that my crest will be in the center of the chapel wall. And it feels like it just got put up there!
Mommy and me!
It's all about the Zeamer class...RTBs!!
Daddy and me!
Natalie filmed my reaction to the Thunderbirds arriving and we are reviewing it before submission to social media!
Pointing to the sky!
Next to the mountains they go!
Once they were finished "practicing/arriving," we had a quick lunch before I had to go to the Individual Awards Ceremony. There was no need for Mom, Dad, Natalie, and Mrs. Hope to come to that, so we said adieu. I headed to Clune Arena for the ceremony and they headed back to the house. I would see them again in a few hours before, during, and after the Show Choir's Grad Show! After the awards, I went back to my room and took a very short nap before getting my makeup together and heading to Arnold Hall to prepare for my last Grad Show with the Show Choir. I've been a part of this group since freshman year and this was another emotional thing for me. While I only got upset once during the show, I was sad thinking about how this would be my last show with this great group of people. The show went well and I had a blast!
We performed several up-beat group numbers, a couple of ballads (stand still slow songs), and had solos and duets. I also was blessed to be able to be the choreographer for the group for the year. I was in charge of coming up with the routines for the new numbers and then making sure everyone knew the choreography from the previous years numbers. Because there were budget cuts, we weren't able to get our usual choreographer, so I had to step up. It was fun, challenging, and at times stressful. I was able to dip into my creative side and see what I was actually capable of after taking dance for 20 years. I was mostly pleased with everything except for one song that I felt like I made difficult and strenuous! At least it looked good from the audience! Haha! Here are the numbers we did for my last year with the ones I got to choreograph!
-Footloose (I choreographed this one. I LOVED it so much and was probably my favorite! This was also the first one that I choreographed for the group!)
-Happy (My choreography)
-Dancing in the Street (My choreography. This is the one that I didn't really like after the fact because of the lifts and partner dancing that I put into it!)
-America the Beautiful (Ballad)
-O America (Ballad)
-Earth, Wind, and Fire Medley (In the Stone, September, and Boogie Wonderland)
-ROCK in the USA
We had a few more numbers, but I am struggling to remember them. Overall, I think the show went well for the last one and hope that the show choir can keep on going for years to come!
Singing one of our ballads!
Singing a duet with Laura, one of my best friends from USAFA. This is the song that go me emotional. We sang "For Good" from Wicked and all the lyrics were very true and it just made me a little weepy. We finished strong and it turned out well. But, man, why did I have to be weepy?
Another ballad...with my mouth wide open. Lovely! Thanks, Dad!
After the show was over and we all said our goodbyes (tear, weep, tear, weep), I headed out with my mom and sister to make a quick stop at my friend Aaron's grad house for his grad party. This was a busy week, but I wanted to at least be able to stop by and give a short hi! I was glad I did. The band was pretty neat and I got to see Aaron's wonderful parents and one of his sisters, Elise! After that short stop, we headed by my sponsor family's house to pick up my cake for my graduation party. My sponsor mom, Robyn, made it for me and it looked so awesome! Plus, I couldn't wait to bite into that cake! It looked amazing and looked like it was gonna taste amazing! Once I got to the house, I said a quick hello to everyone and then headed back to USAFA. Tuesday was going to be a HUGE, very long day! But I was super excited about it! :)
Hopefully the 2 blog posts that make up Tuesday will be up shortly!
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