Prediction

There is a rehearsal at the Jacob Brown auditorium for Wednesday's High School Senior Day- something I've looked forward to for a long while.

Every year, towards the end of the fall semester, all the high school seniors that are involved in music organizations at their schools are invited to attend this event. UTB's music groups are showcased; the choir sings a few selections from their upcoming concert program and the bands and mariachi groups do the same.

I remember a few years ago when I attended as a senior. I was so excited to go, see "the best of the best," as my director said. They didn't disappoint. Other than at a convention showcasing groups from all over Texas, I'd never seen or heard such great performances, groups made up of people only one to two years older than I was. I soaked it up like a sponge.

Of course there were kids right next to me- I say "kids" because that's what they acted like- who only attended because it was basically a get-out-of-jail-free card. Classes were excused and they got to "hang out with their friends". They were paying attention to anything but the group on stage. Texting was, I believe, the biggest attraction. I was even disappointed to see a director playing with his phone.

I felt bad for the students on stage. I could only imagine what hard work they'd put into making a piece sound more than decent and no one seemed to care.

This year, I'm one of those students on stage. While I can only hope that the high school students pay attention and maybe get something out of the day's events, I know there will be that percentage of kids who will be texting away, not a care in the world.

I'll be posting an update after it's all over Wednesday afternoon.