My Shout-Outs: Junior Year

OMG COLLEGE SLOW DOWN I'M NOT READY TO BE A SENIOR YET.

^Now that I got that out of the way, it's time for the annual listing of the coolest, dopest, most bestestest peeps this side of the Chippewa! My junior year at UWEC was definitely one of the hardest I've had so far, and so I have a LOT of people to thank. 

First, of course, is the mellophone section of the BMB! We had a smaller section this time around, but there sure wasn't a smaller number of crazzzyyyyy people!
And their names are:
Alex Herrera
Amy Greathead
Andrea Ranzau
Tony Peterson
Ashley Sukhu
Kyle Launderville
Robyn Gehri
Emily Watkins
Ben Mackie
Siri Stensberg
Sam Olson
Forrest Cleven-Peterson
Grant Sachs
Best of luck to Alex, who's graduating!! Have fun being an English teacher girl!
I also wish good fortune to Amy, who will be student teaching in the fall!

Next, I shout-out to my homies in the UWEC Symphony Orchestra!
Eli Webb-violin
Grace Wilgus-violin
Crystine McGinley Adams-violin
Nathalie Burmeister-violin
Rose Mish-violin
Jake Brunquell-violin
Suzzana Kellett-violin
Rosie Moua-cello
Rachel Burtman-bass
Hunter Jeske-bass
Miranda Mullis-cello
Kate Hegna-violin
Allison Litke-violin
Sarah DiPiazza-clarinet
Laurie Craig-flute
Unfortunately, I have to say goodbye to some graduates here as well!! I hope for nothing but prosperity for Laurie, Eli and Grace! Additionally, Rosie will be student teaching in the fall, so good luck to her as well!

Horn studio peoples, ya'll are next! I learned alot from you guys, thanks for inviting me!
Rosie Evans
Andy Michor
Andrea Ranzau
Dominic Meincke
Kristina Mienke
Tommy Printon
Elizabeth Brunner
Hannah Steig
Ben Mackie
Amanda Halek
Katelyn Klevgard
Siri Stensberg 
People are graduating here too!! I wish for smooth sailing for Hannah, Dominic and Tommy, kick some ass boys (and girl)!

Creative Writing (ENGL 220) people: you are ALL the best. Literally. Like, the best ever. You showed me a world outside of the crazy music department, so I give you my deepest gratitude! ...But there were some people who stood out:
Summer Underwood (Amazon warrior princess pirate shaman!)
Anne Sandell (ENGL 310-Spring 2016-ROUND TWO!!)
Judi Johnson
Abby Schultz
Alyssa Sablan

Then I have these amazing professors who have helped me learn alot about...well, pretty much everything!!
Nobu Yasuda
Ryan Jones
Gretchen Peters
Randy Dickerson
Allyson Loomis (Best professor I think I've ever had. My creative writing buddies can attest to this!!)

Here comes the random list of people! I'll include everyone I can:
Lucas Brawdy
Britany Chartier
Autumn Schacherl
Garrett Aalfs
Jack Donovan
Miles Plant
Emilie Zamarripa (you're closer to the top this year!)
Haley Reichardt
Shelby Moore
Alex Exworthy
Trevor Kent
Jesse Kozak
Joe Poncelet
Andy Ludewig
Jamie Gronski
Angie Coyle
Carlee Schneider
Mariah Sands
Courtney Walin
Adam Wysocki
Aaron Grindemann
Paul Soulier
Madeline Reilly
Dani Schmalz
Matt Strom
Anika Reinighaus
Michael Dellutri
Amanda Koval
Karen McGregor
Sam Zimmerman
Brady Scafe
Christine Lasee
Shalaine Buehl
Andrew Nicholson
Bobbi Freagon
Grace Luebben
Julia Falbo
Since there's a lot of people in this list, of course there are some graduates!! Best wishes and all the luck to Miles and Jack!!

Now, before I head on to the Big Four, I must take this time to honor two graduates who I will miss more than anybody else. Knowing that they won't be here next year brings actual tears to my eyes!! 
Kelly Noltner-Girl, you know you were da best evah!!! And yeah, you can sing pretty well, too! I'll be seeing you at the Metropolitan Opera House! 

Shane O'Neil-My chauffeur. My rock. My music buddy. My only male best friend! I promise I won't start bawling into after I post this but...GOOD LUCK, MAN, DO THE BEST JOB YOU CAN OKAY?!!!! #tearsfoyears #pleasedontleave #illbeemissingyou

Alright, so I know it's my custom to do a Big Four every year, but here's the thing: this year was so exceptionally challenging for me, that I couldn't just turn to four people. There are indeed FIVE, FANTASTIC, FABULOUS women who have carried me through all the trials and tribulations this year.
Briana Buchholtz-Three years running girl! After she got back from Japan, it was a little rocky at first, but eventually she reminded me why we're such great friends. I can't believe we still have another year to tear shit up. Senior year, baby, LET'S DO IT!

Hannah Zirbes-Definitely one of the nicest, chillest people I've ever had the fortune to know. I honestly don't know why I didn't befriend her earlier, cause she's really that amazing. 20th Century Music and World Music were awesome, now let's conquer Music History Seminar together! (Also, Briana and Hannah went bar-hopping with me on my 21st birthday, so they get an extra shout-out for that!)

Andrea Ranzau-It's definitely been a bumpy road for us. But I take great solace in knowing that I can turn to you whenever I need help. I know our lives are not going to get easier, but having you by my side makes the ride bearable. You deserve a great support system, and I am absolutely willing to be a part of it, just like you are in mine! 

Teresa Wolfe-Let's recount the number of classes we've had together: MUSI 227, MUSI 229, MUSI 303, MUSI 350, and MUSI 405. Next up: Renaissance Counterpoint!!! Doing the music history sequence with you was beneficial in WAY more ways than I can count. All those late nights at the library, all the studying for quizzes and midterms and finals and writing all dem papers!! You'll be gone in one more semester, so we're not going to waste any time come the fall!

So, who was the girl who just went, like, above and beyond, who showed me that I do have friends that are willing to make plans with me, whenever, wherever? That is none other than my bus buddy, my Disney Sorry enthusiast, my music critic/helper, my McDonald's partner, my Noodles+Company/Books-a-million bae: EMILY WATKINS!!
By and large, your support has given me hope that I might not be such a lost cause after all! Every Sunday we've hung out, we've talked, we've dueled it out in the manner of board games, we've laughed, we've cried (well, maybe not that part), we've done many great things together!! I'm glad you're only a freshman, because this is only going to get bigger and better, I assure you!

Year 3: DONE. So, what's next? I don't know yet; I can honestly say I don't know. The wind will take me where it wants me to go, so while I continue this journey, you'll be sure to keep getting postcards.