My name is Kanou Zunker. It is important to address why the trip to New York is significant. For one, I have always wanted to go to New York, most likely due to James and the Giant Peach. Something about the idea of a place where all your dreams come true was alluring. As I’ve grown up since then, I realize that was most likely false, as housing costs are quite high. But, despite this, the drive to visit remains, albeit in a different form.

I am a big fan of the performing arts: choir, theatre, musical theatre, and all that jazz. The New York trip this year allows for viewing of two Broadway shows and participation in two workshops where the choir gets to learn both the music and choreography for the musicals. One of my goals for when I grow up is to be cast in a Broadway show, and I would like to see how it feels to work on one. Furthermore, in pursuit of the goal to play a character on Broadway, I would have to live in New York. And, after thinking for a while, I had the epiphany that it might be helpful to experience a place before deciding on residence.

New York City is a large city, approximately 463 square miles, which leads me to believe that it would be quite easy to get lost. It is a very popular tourist attraction. I would personally not like to be lost in New York, for I am not Kevin McAllister from Home Alone 2. The trip to New York includes nearly all of Hellgate's Chamber Choir and Hellgate’s Varsity Choir, which would total to well over 100 people. From my understanding, it is somewhat challenging to lose sight of that many people traveling as a mob through any city.

Now, one remaining question would be about why two choirs are going to New York. We are going to be singing, which I can assume you already knew from context clues, but what you might not have put together is the location, which is the infamous Carnegie Hall. This performance will provide a chance to really test out singing in front of a very judgmental crowd in a high-stakes environment. If I ever make it to Broadway, I could look back and see the progress I’ve made and remember all of the performances I have done to get myself there. And that truly is the spirit behind the trip. Memory.

This is my last year in high school, and, for a lot of my friends, by chance the last year I will see them. I would like to really make the last year count. I am a very sentimental man, and I would be quite satisfied having something to look back on.