During the last week of instructing my students, I had one final fifth grade chorus rehearsal.  My 5^th grade students, who I have taught since kindergarten, are moving on to middle school next year.  They said to me, “Mr. Slattery, we want to sing a song for our fifth grade graduation ceremony that will make our parents cry!” I reflected upon their request and wrote out an arrangement of the old Cyndi Lauper song “True Colors.” As the chorus rehearsed this incredible song, I asked the students to close their eyes as they sang and really think about what the lyrics mean.  I told them to think about a person in their lives who has always been there for them, no matter how difficult things may be.  As the fifth grade chorus sang the song, irony took over and I began to notice several chorus members starting to cry themselves.  Well, good thing I had a box of tissues on hand because by the end of the performance, almost all of the students were crying.  The power and meaning behind the music took hold of the students and a deeper, more meaningful connection, emerged in that they truly began to appreciate the people in their lives. During the fifth grade graduation, the students performed the song perfectly.  Most of the parents were crying, and by the end of the performance, great cheers arose from the audience because they were moved by the power of the music and its message.