I’m not a particularly sentimental person, but John Martin’s The Awakening still gets me. I sang for four years at Niwot High School, and we concluded our last performance of each year by pouring our hearts into this incredible song.

Singing The Awakening is an utterly exhausting task, both mentally and physically. But when it’s over, you know you’ve been a part of something.

My high school singing career ended on The Awakening’s last, triumphant note. What I would give to sing this just one more time, and for but a moment be on the cusp of all that was to come.

I hope I never forget the feeling.