Class of 2018 senior, band member, and spontaneous teenager Champagne Kyla Lipaopao is soon to graduate. Driven; she continues to work hard and attempts to stay away from the plague known as “senioritis.” Though she is no longer a freshman, she claims she is still “fresh, man.”

Born in the Philippines, Lipaopao moved to Seymour, Indiana at the age of seven, where she attended Jackson Elementary. She is able to speak both Tagalog (which is the national language of the Philippines) and English. She has remained dedicated, with planned goals that are set to be accomplished. “Now being a senior, I’m glad I’ve gotten this far being here,” she says, “I’d say this year has been my favorite year. I only have two classes, and it’s nice to sleep after school.” 

This is Lipaopao’s last year being an SHS band member, which is something she is passionate and emotional about leaving behind. “Band is good. I feel like I’m definitely apart of something, and it’s helped and positively changed my life. It’s something I enjoy because I have three supportive teachers who support me academically and musically. Out of everything, band is what I’ll miss the most;  I love how everyone gets together and performs music. I’ll miss being frustrated over a measure that I cannot play, then practicing to successfully play it.” . 

Lipaopao’s advice to freshman is: “Do extracurricular activities and do not procrastinate, it’ll all come back on you. It was all such an experience, (overall) my only wish would be that I had studied more.” Favorite teacher Shane Fallis has helped her grow as a person and as a student. “He really helped me figure out what I wanted to do in life,” and that would be anthropology, which will be her major. Another thing that helped was her passion and interest is a hobby of hers, photography. Lipaopao considers this a form of a therapy and art. Lipaopao enjoys being in the moment, and getting it. She says, “I like to capture the moment, it’s like a zen type of moment.”

Her goals after high school are to attend college.  “I got accepted to Loyola University Chicago, so I’m going there. I’m done applying, but still waiting for Indiana University and Purdue University.” As her last year at SHS winds down, she makes her senior year count the best she can.