Graduating causes many new emotions to rise, but it’s even worse for a show choir kid. For the average show choir kid it has been a part of his/her life for 6 years. When you're devoted to anything for that many years it develops into more than just a hobby. It turns into a passion. With graduation season in full-swing, here are some phases a has-been goes through:

1. The "Is this really happening?" Phase

This is probably one of the worst phases to go through. It occurs shortly after the season begins and is in full swing. It hits harder than any other phase. This typically hits even harder when a "last" happens. For example, your last dance camp, your last competition at the place you've been to all 6 years of your show choir career, your last Tuesday night practice, your last pre-comp bus ride, your last "Meet the Pirate Singers," you get the idea. This phase usually leads to reminiscing, which ends with laughter and tears.

2. The Denial Phase

This phase takes some longer to overcome than others. Some know they are has-beens and accept it, even if they don’t want to. For others, including myself, we refuse to accept the fact that we don't have another season, dance camp, or Tuesday night practice. We still get excited when thinking about the next school year because that means another show choir season. The hardest part of the denial phase is when it finally hits you that you aren't going to have another season.

3. The Memories Phase

This phase is one that happens to everyone, some sooner than others. After 6 years, your fellow members become your siblings, your director becomes your mom, and the choir room becomes your home. Even though you hated it at the time, you would give anything to hear your show designer say "do it again," just one more time. Even though it felt like the 8-hour bus ride was never going to end at the time, you'd give anything for those 9 p.m. sleep-deprived jam sessions to "Ignition (Remix)" by R. Kelly or Fergalicious by Fergie, sometimes both. You'd give anything to sing Misty Mountain again. You'd give anything to sit in the auditorium at your first out-of-state competition and watch other show choirs with all your best friends. You'd give anything for one more trip to Chick-fil-A after a competition. You'd give anything in the world to get dressed up and perform one last time. You'd give anything to start the year over and act like you never graduated just to redo the season.

4. The "What's next?" Phase

This phase is the one when everyone goes their separate ways. For some, their music career ends, and for others, it continues. For some, they move on to a big college show choir, and for others it is a small ensemble at the local community college. For others, their career ends after high school show choir. You hope that all of you stay together, but you know it's nearly impossible for it to happen. You know the last time all of you will sing together, and be together, is at graduation.

Graduating is hard in general, but graduating from show choir is even harder. Even though we graduate from high school and show choir, our group will forever have a special place in our hearts.