Senior Elaina Shafer participates in numerous activities, but all of them involve a common thread: her affinity for music and performance. Whether it’s theater, color guard, Varsity Voices or Wind Ensemble, Shafer has become invested in the music world.
Her friend, senior Kat Schumaker, sees the artist in her.
“She plays piano and saxophone, and she played flute for a little while,” Schumaker said. “She also sings and likes making songs. When she gets into something, she’s really into it.”
Choir director Jack Phillipson admires Shafer’s musical tenacity.
“She takes any opportunity to perform. That’s why she’s gotten so good and found her way into Varsity Voices. She’s [done] solos for the pop concert,” Phillipson said. “I think Shafer still gets nervous like everybody does, but her drive to get better has really, really paid off for her in a lot of ways.”
The original song Shafer wrote for a final exam in Phillipson’s class left such an impression on the teacher that it constantly played in his head.
“She was one of the only ones who took me up on the offer [to write a song],” Phillipson said. “She came up with the lyrics and then we worked together on the harmonies and the chords. It was such a good and impactful song.”
Though she hopes her fine arts endeavors move people to feel something, Shafer doesn’t exactly do it for the audience.
“I do it mainly for myself,” Shafer said. “I just really love doing it and challenging myself with new things in that area.”
Outside of school, she stays active in the youth group at her church and sings in their praise team during worship.
“I’ve been [on the praise team] since sixth grade, when I entered the youth group,” Shafer said. “It’s performance, and I get to glorify God in that performance.”
On top of it all, she works part-time at Tropical Smoothie Cafe and holds an impressive academic record.
Shafer likes her busy schedule. She considers the occasional jam-packed day an expected consequence of doing what she loves.
Offstage and outside of the classroom, she also finds time for helping others.
“She helps people when they need it, even if it makes her feel uncomfortable,” Schumaker said. “She will still go out of her way to try to be the person she needs to be.”
Shafer’s kind nature brought the two together as friends, way back in their third grade class. Shafer had first approached Schumaker after realizing they shared mutual friends.
“She’s the friend I’ve had the longest,” Schumaker said. “We’re like complete opposites [but] even when I’m dealing with difficult stuff, she wants to do what is best for me. She’s always there.”
Phillipson also acknowledges the footprint Shafer has left.
“I’m so, so glad that I got to share four years with her,” Phillipson said. “I think she’s going to forever be one of those really memorable students who made an impact not only on me but on this program and school in general.”
