On May 21^st, senior band members traveled to Fort Worth, Texas to share good times and make more memories together on their last trip as a group. Katelyn Mehringer, Megan Cockerham, Natalie Yeaman, James Owens, Brent Hayworth, Sam Remmers, Ronard Nemons, and Antwond Burrell loaded up on school vehicles at 8:00 Saturday morning and began the three hour drive to Fort Worth.

            After arriving, the seniors began the day with Starbucks coffee and lunch at Papadeaux Seafood Restaurant.

            “Brent and Megan got fried alligator at Pappadeaux it was quite interesting,” Mehringer said. “It was fun to spend a Saturday just walking around and having a down to earth trip. I’m glad we didn’t go anywhere crazy and hectic. I really enjoyed spending time and eating with the other seniors at Pappadeaux.”

            Students were then allowed to browse the surrounding stores in the decorative outlet mall before heading to down town Fort Worth.

            “I didn’t actually purchase anything when we went shopping, but it was just fun looking at all the different things you could purchase,” Owens mentioned. “This last trip with my senior band friends was extremely enjoyable and I’m sad this is the last trip together as a band and our last performance was at the band concert. “

             Burrell, like Mehringer, enjoyed eating at the restaurants and a casual day with the other seniors. However at the restaurant the seniors chose for dinner, Burrell decided to mix things up and sing karaoke in front of the restaurant.

            “Another guest at the restaurant walked up to our table, handed us a binder, and asked if any of us sang karaoke,” Burrell accounted. “Of course everyone at my table pointed to me and insisted I sing. I sang ‘My Girl’ in front of the whole restaurant! It was a lot of fun, but surprisingly I was extremely nervous. My whole table cheered for me, and it was fun hanging out with the senior band members before everyone leaves for college.”

            Nemons also enjoyed karaoke with the other seniors.

             “Karaoke at the restaurant for dinner was a lot of fun,” Nemons stated. “Antwond was the only person who sang, but we certainly helped him out at our table.” 

             At 9:00, the senior reloaded on the school vehicles and began the three hour drive home with new memories and extra shopping bags.

            “It was fun to hang out in a town so different than the little towns we’re used to and Waco,” Hayworth mentioned. “Everyone had fun in Fort Worth. We met some very interesting people, sang karaoke, listened to some very off key local bands, and just had fun.”

            The seniors unanimously enjoyed their Saturday together. However at the end of the trip, the reality that graduation is getting closer by the day began to sink in for the group.

            “Being with the seniors as a group was a lot of fun, and I know I’m definitely going to remember all the funny things that happened even after I graduate,” Remmers stated.

             Cockerham, like Remmers, has also come to realize that graduation is just around the corner and that she will no longer be a member of the band.

             “This really helped me realize that I’m graduating and that I will not perform with the band again,” Cockerham stated. “It’s a bittersweet moment. I’m excited to leave, but at the same time I am going to miss being with all these people that I have grown to love.”