Senior Lila Becker looked out at the audience, tears streaming down her face and confetti flying around her, as she took her final bow. It was the closing night of Mean Girls, and Becker’s last time performing onstage at South.

Becker spent all four years of her high school career participating in the Fine Arts Department through choir, theater, and dance. However, after high school, Becker is pursuing a career that does not involve fine arts. During the final bows of Mean Girls, the sentiment of the situation struck her.

“I didn’t think I [would] cry [during bows],” Becker said. “When the confetti [went off], it hit me that we will never be able to [live in] this moment [again].”

Becker’s favorite part of performing is invoking emotions and images to an audience doing something that she loves.

“[When performing], my favorite part is knowing that you’re able to pass on your own joy,” Becker said. “[Going] out on stage and doing something that you are good at is really exhilarating, and being able to share that with [everyone] feels really good.”

Senior Gianne Rebolledo, Concert Band and Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra (GSO) First Principal Flutist and Marching Band Flute and Clarinet Section Leader, will miss the sensation of playing the flute and music with a community she feels connected to.

“I will miss the community [of band] the most,” Rebolledo said. “When we play music, I get chills [listening] to it.”

As a member of band, senior Katie Sander, Marching Band Drumline Co-captain and Jazz Band member, reflects upon her experience in South’s band program.

“[My experience at band has] been really positive,” Sander said. “[Music] is a really great way to express yourself, and I really like the community I found in [the band program].”

Although Becker, like many seniors, feels melancholy about graduating from the Fine Arts Department, she is excited for younger members to continue their legacy.

“[The department has to] say goodbye to people that [helped] shape the program,” Becker said. “As a senior, [I] have full confidence that [future generations] are going to carry on what [we] helped to build and [I’m] excited to see what they’re gonna do.”

After spending four years in the Fine Arts Department, participating in colorguard, choir, and theater, senior Rachel Kunkel, Drama Club publicist, Intonations Co-president and Color Guard Co-Captain, is ready to move on to a new chapter of her life.

“Even though it is sad that [the choir concert] was my last show ever, I also know there [are more opportunities] in the future,” Kunkel said.