It was a Sunday morning in Orlando, and Prospect Choir Director Jen Troiano was handing out 240 quarters to her gang of Prospect singers. Singers were spread across the laundry machines on each floor due to the limited number of two per floor, and the occasional broken one. Passing the laundry detergent a chaperone had bought that morning, they washed all their dirty clothes, preparing to be in Florida for two extra days.

Their 3:15 p.m. Saturday flight back to Chicago had been canceled – despite the airline’s repeated guarantees that they wouldn’t end up stuck in warm and sunny Florida, they were stranded.

“I was really in disbelief, especially after they said we are guaranteed an 8:00 p.m. flight… and that guarantee was just ripped away,” Troiano said.

Initially, the general mood was down. It didn’t mess with Troiano all that much – her daughter, sophomore Penny Troiano, was on the trip too. Penny described the choir’s reaction to the cancelation.

“Throwing up, screaming,” Penny said.

Troiano called Associate Principal Frank Mirandola, who issued mindset changing advice.

“He gives great advice… don’t just make the best of it thrive. Like, make it awesome, like, something that people don’t ever forget,” Jen said.

That’s exactly what the Troianos had – an awesome time, and one they and the rest of the choir definitely won’t forget. The choral boosters were able to donate enough money for everyone to go to SeaWorld Orlando the next day, totally free of charge.

“We just tried to feed the kids in a group situation and just help them… feel like they didn’t have to worry,” Jen said.

Overall, Jen and Penny feel like there wasn’t just a silver lining to the delay – it was a net-positive.

“Everybody on that trip, they got close, like those kids, chose to make relationships happen, and that was beautiful,” Jen said.

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