Cue "Pomp and Circumstance"

Welcome back my couch potatoes. I stand before you, virtually in my cap and gown with my cords around my neck, looking like a rainbow. I'm about to graduate, but it still doesn't feel like it. You know that feeling like something's coming, but it doesn't actually feel like it's coming? I've had this feeling a lot in the past, and sometimes, something pops up so that event I was looking forward to actually never comes. That's how I was about this entire year. Like I feel like my Senior year wasn't going to be real. It was, just not how I expected it. I felt like my last closing night where I was supposed to cry, give my speech, receive a poster was never going to happen, and it didn't. I never actually pictured myself at Senior prom. I never saw myself receiving my cords. I never saw my self walking up in my cap and gown to receive my diploma. If these things were real, I would be crying because I don't like change.

Although people have been making my adjusted Senior Year better. I can tell who my real friends are and what to expect at college. I still wish I was able to do the things that my older siblings did their Senior year. I had a mental Senior Year bucket list and I hope I could do some of those things before I go to college. That would be a summer to remember. This still is a memorable Senior Year. Definitely a different story to tell my kids one day. And to be honest, if the whole distance learning didn't happen, it definitely would've been harder to say goodbye to so many people because I feel like I will never see them again. I'm not very good at staying in touch with people so I know for many, goodbye means goodbye and not "see you during break".

For this post, I decided to make a playlist of goodbye/graduation songs. Some of these songs are tear-jerkers for me. Some just feel like a something is coming to an end. And a lot of these songs make me imagine saying good bye to people; reminiscing about the past and just feels like an end of an era. So here we go...

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

I never understood why this song was played at my 5th grade moving up ceremony. It didn't give me a graduation feel but it when with our Luau theme lol. I listened to it just now for the lyrics because there's so many different versions of this song and I did feel like crying. I think it's because this was one of the first real big changes in my life that I could understand. I was going to meet new people and lose some friends. Any major changes when I was younger were things my mind could wrap around. This was one of the first major changes for me. It was also a simpler time back then, when everyone was innocent. As for the lyrics, I actually could see it being a goodbye song because it talks about wanting to be in a better place and the singer feels that in the future that they will. So this is a happier good bye song.

"One Last Dance" by R5

A couple years ago, my sisters were obsessed with R5 so I basically know all of their songs and some of them stuck with me. This was one of them. This was one of those songs where I just pictured a moment in time. I pictured me slow dancing with my high school sweetheart at prom. Having a relationship in high school I thought a lot about in the future (because I'm also a cheesy and hopeless romantic) but I couldn't actually picture what happened right after high school. I didn't know if we were going to make it through college and this song gave me that feeling of living in the moment and not to worry about the future. I don't have to worry about that anymore because I don't have a high school sweetheart lol. But I do feel this a lot with friends. With going to college, I don't know if I'm stilling going to be close with all of my friends or if they will simply stay as friends of high school.

"Graduation" by Juice WRLD

A bop. Idk what they lyrics are but Graduation is the title and it's song I like to jam to. (I'm not a huge rap fan but my Juice WRLD kinda grew on me thanks to my friend). And a warning, like all other rap music (basically) there is inappropriate language in this song.

"We Are Young" by FUN feat. Janelle Monáe

This is a great living in the moment song. Not so much a good bye song but it kinda passes a grad song... at least for me it does because it reflects all the fun you had (haha get it?) with friends. 

"See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth

I don't really have much to say about this song. Honestly, it's another bop. Looking through the lyrics though, it shows an appreciation of friends, reflecting a chapter in their life and moving on together. Plus, Charlie Puth is AMAZING. Def on the list. 

"I Lived" by One Republic

This song recognizes all you have accomplished. It reflects on the good times and bad times and honestly, it could apply to life, but high school has been our life for 4 years so it counts. I definitely had so many good times, so many bad times, and so many accomplishments, but no regrets. Although I am one of those people who only ever looks at the bad thing about myself, I did enjoy my high school career. Of course, there are things I wish would've never happened, but it's out of my control and the last 4 years wouldn't be what it was with out it. Like this pandemic, I wished it didn't happen, but I wouldn't really want it to change what has happened in the last couple of months.

"The Nights" by AVICII

I think we've all seen the endless TikToks last year where everyone used this song to show their high school memories. Or even to show how people are scared of what goes past high school or people crying whether it be tears of joy and/or sadness. This song is a great song to jam to but I feel like really reflects the vibe of the young teen life. Making the most of the years when you're young. Your memories should be ones worth remembering. Although it doesn't say it in the lyrics, this song gives me the YOLO vibe where I feel like I should do that stupid thing. Honestly you should because it's easier to get out of stuff when you are under 18... I mean what. Oh and sometimes it's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission... I mean whaaaatttt. 

"The Climb" by Miley Cyrus

An oldie, but a goodie. Especially for me, this song really hits my close to the heart. As a musician, you are constantly told by people that you are not good enough. For me, I felt this with a teacher from school... not fun. But this song reminds me that in order to reach my goal I have to continue to work hard, even if I'm not always rewarded for that hard work. For me, this teacher has made me push myself harder because I really wanted to prove them wrong, and I did by getting into Berklee College of Music, one of the most prestigious music schools on the East Coast. Although I did not appreciate this teacher's attitude towards me, I definitely would not have accomplished all that I have with out them. But this doesn't apply just to music for me, this is my whole high school career and I bet for some of you too. Fall outs with friends, break ups, tests, teachers, grades, clubs, sports, some of these terrible things that seems so small to other people will be huge for you. They shape you into who you are and get you where you need to be. I'm appreciative of all the terrible stuff (can't curse lol) that high school has put me through along with the good because I reached one of my goals. 

"Some Things Are Meant to Be" from Little Women

I already know that this is not really a song many people might know because it's from a musical. However some of you might've read the book or seen the movie (with the gorgeous Timothee Chalamet😍). It's long but y'all need to see the movie. It's really a great story about four sisters and the protagonist Jo, is a real woman of power. Let me get back to the song, for me this song has another special place in my heart. It had the potential of being my first amazing performance at a recital but I actually failed lol. But I was given another opportunity to perform this song again at a voice competition, and that was my real first successful performance. Whenever I sing this song, I think of  my past romantic relationship with you-know-who (and if you don't know then I don't think you've been paying attention in class). I think about all the amazing memories we had in the beginning and just reminisce. By the end of the song, I remember that I have to let it all go, everything including him. There were moments that I was happy it happened and I could let go, but there were other moments where I wish I didn't have to let him go. It was the same for Jo.

Here's me Sophomore year rehearsing "Some Things are Meant to be"

Click on the link on the picture ;)

SPOILER ALERT: This song is a duet between Jo and her younger sister Meg. Meg is very sick and ends up dying at the end of the song and Jo has trouble letting go, but Meg is ready. Sometimes I'm Meg, sometimes I'm Jo haha.

This song reminds me to be happy that it happened and let go. So the fact that I'm leaving so many friends and may never get to see them again, or the fact that my high school career is coming to an end is something I have to let go. Remember them, but be happy it happened and move on.

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day

This is def the top grad/goodbye song. It's universal. Across the board. If you don't think so, then there's something wrong with you. Or you just never heard it before and you need to stop reading at this moment and click here to listen and watch the music video. It's short but it perfectly reflects the end of a chapter. The music itself gives you the feeling that something is coming to an end and that you just want to look back on your time. The lyrics perfectly captures the idea of not knowing what is going to happen in the future and appreciating the past and wanting to forward. Honestly, my words don't describe how good this song is so just click on the link and listen to it.

There are so many songs that I wanted to list but this post would be too long. Some times you just have to let go and say good bye; know when to move on. It's that time couch potatoes. I didn't know if I wanted to keep my blog going after this class was over but after thinking about it, as much as I would like to, I know I won't. I don't want to give any of you guys false hope. If I do end up writing again though, I'll let you know. But for now, I'm going to say goodbye. Thank you all for watching me (more like reading but... whatever) as a writer and it definitely was a pleasure watching all of you grow as well. I appreciate letting you guys share your work with me. As for this blog, it definitely was fun to relax and write about whatever I wanted to. Thank you to you, my loyal audience for sticking around. I do apologize however that I did not write more posts for musical theatre, but I know that many of you have enjoyed reading my blog.

It is time.

*walks across virtual stage*

*moves tassel to other side*

Farewell, my couch potatoes. No need to look, listen or lay low :)

Images:
HSM3
IZ
R5
Juice WRLD
Fun
Wiz Khalifa
One Republic
Avicii
Miley Cyrus
Broadway
Little Women
Green Day

One last thing I want to leave behind but I couldn't find a place to put in this post is an original song "New, Some Type of Way" sung by myself and Patrick Calderon. It's a very rough recording lol.