It's a tradition every year for the seniors of the Waukesha North marching band to give speeches in the school auditorium before the team departs for the state competition.
Often, the seniors reflect on their careers, while looking ahead to the rest of the season.
For Anna Snopek, it provided an extra moment to reflect.
The Waukesha North senior specifically thought back on the last 12 months, many of which provided her with experiences that the 17-year-old said were her most difficult — but which also made her stronger.
Cancer did that to her, but it didn't win.
"I was sitting in the auditorium (before the state competition Oct. 17) and thinking back to last year when I was so fearful," Snopek said. "Now, it's completely different. I've made it through such a hard time."
Indeed.
Hours after her reflection, Snopek stood tall and proud as one of the leaders of North's marching band as she directed her fellow teammates. She marched around Perkins Stadium with no limitations, one year after playing in pain on the same field. She delivered a sparkling solo on her piccolo, and with a smile on her face she accepted the team's first-place trophy, the ninth straight title for North.
"It was so exciting to be back on that field," Snopek said.
North's marching band director, Lansing Dimon, called Snopek "a pillar of strength."
Fighting through pain
After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma (a cancer that develops in the bones) in early October 2014, Snopek underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, later had surgery to remove a tumor in her right femur and had more rounds of chemo during the first half of this year.
Through it all, Snopek wasn't going to let her diagnosis stop her.
Days after being diagnosed and despite beginning to feel weakness in her legs, she mustered up the strength to perform at the 2014 state band competition, helping her team win its eighth straight state title.
And despite missing her team's bus to Indianapolis for the grand national championships because of another hospital visit weeks later, she found a way to get there when doctors gave her the go-ahead, so she could perform with her team last November.
But soon, the cancer limited her mobility, forcing her to get around on crutches and in a wheelchair.
She was in and out of school as she underwent weeks of chemo, which made her feel tired, achy and nauseous. She said the most difficult part of the treatment was not knowing what was going to happen to her.
"But I stayed optimistic, and that helped me get past my fear," Snopek said.
Above: Waukesha North senior Anna Snopek (second from left) sits with her fellow band members before a football game halftime performance this fall. Snopek was a drum major on the state champion Northstar Marching Band.
Positive experiences
Despite continuing to undergo chemo throughout the spring, things began looking up for Snopek as she was named drum major by her band director after the season ended.
She concluded the school year with one more crowning moment: Her classmates voted her prom queen.
"I was so happy all of my peers supported me," Snopek said. "Prom was so much fun."
Soon after, chemo was over, on June 22, 2015.
"It was a huge relief," Snopek said.
On her Twitter account she posted a photo of herself holding up a poster that read "(Chemo) was tough, but I've been tougher."
'Great' prognosis
As she began regaining her strength, she was once again looking forward to performing with the band — this time without any limitations.
She also recently received the best news on her first three-month checkup.
"There's no evidence of the cancer," Snopek said. "My prognosis is great."
With this positive news and no limitations on her marching ability, Snopek has had a banner year with the Northstars.
Not only did she help oversee the team's Class AAA state title, Snopek earned outstanding soloist recognition at the Youth In Music Competition in Farmington, Minnesota, earlier this month.
"I enjoy band so much, and it was so much fun to work as a team and have all our hard work pay off," Snopek said.
Looking forward
Dimon said he is inspired by Snopek's courage as he watched her battle her diagnosis over the last year.
"She's a very strong young lady," Dimon reiterated. "She handled it all with grace."
Snopek now has her eyes on returning to the grand national championships with her team next month, and just enjoying her senior year.
She is interested in attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison or Marquette University next year and plans to major in biomedical engineering, a field she said she is drawn to because of her experiences in the last year.
"My whole experience drew me to that field because these are people who developed parts to make it possible for people in my situation to walk," Snopek said.
And to march.