Prompt: Describe an experience that forever changed your life and your outlook on life.
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I have been in band since 6th grade and I am happy that I joined. I have never been the best player in my section but that didn't stop me from enjoying band. For me band isn't just playing and instrument, it is a place that I have learned love and know that there is someone I can talk to. A place where there are others that I learned and enjoy calling friends and family. Band for me is something that I could always count on.
In the summer of 8th grade I was introduced to Marching band and summer camp. A couple of my middle school friends joined with me, I was worried that the high schoolers would be mean since we were still middle schoolers but I was completely wrong. They took us in with open arms and showed us how things worked. This was the first time I ever thought about memorizing music, as an eighth grader I thought it was impossible but the high schoolers and the band directors helped me grow as a musician and as a person. The first game of the season was in Leonard, I remember this as if were yesterday wearing our white shirts and khaki shorts; we were going to perform our 1st movement and play our second one and half of our third. As we were in lines to enter the field I got really nervous and was about to back out but my Big which was Jennifer a trombone player (the only girl trombone I have seen in a while at our school) helped me calm down and encouraged me, if she hadn't been near I for sure would have left. After performing in half time at Leonard the heavy breathing and the rush I was feeling after performed was something that I really really enjoyed, call it a rush feeling or even adrenaline but it was something that I wanted more of.
Time went by the end of sophomore year I wanted to become section leader. As grabbing a section leader packet I got asked by a director something along the lines of "Why a section leader?" to which I responded "Why not?" he then told me that I should grab a drum major packet, who knows what could happen. When I took the packet I was nervous just looking and thinking about it, I thought to myself "Who am I to take on this responsibility?". Little by little I started to fill out the packet and I went to ask the director who advised me to get the packet to help me with the basics of a conducting pattern. I spent multiple lunches as him for help (I'm pretty sure I annoyed him from all the help I was asking for) but I really appreciated it. After tryouts happened I was really excited and ready to put in the hard work. Summer band camp came around and I practiced with Selena every time we could we had help not only from the band directors but as well from the college students that came to help that summer. Being on the podium was another great feeling that band has given me. Being able to watch the whole band as they performed was another great feeling. Seeing all of the everyone march and creating shapes and the music added to it topped it off. One of my favorite shows that we have performed would probably be the Mineola show in 2018. It was a very hot and humid day when we got in the field the heat waves where coming off the field. We started our show like any other show we had performed but as we kept on performing a cloud came by and rain started pouring. I was surprised by it but what surprised me even more was that even though the rain was pouring somewhat heavy no one had ran of the field. Selena and I kept on conducting and even though it was very hard to see what she was doing we managed to stay together and everyone on the field kept on marching a great show. That was the first time we made it to finals in the Mineola competition and I was extremely proud of everyone's work that day and it also made me realize that every obstacle can be overcome if we are all together. This year being my last first for so many things made me realize that no matter how much time we think we have it will never be enough if we enjoy doing something that. We gave so much that year knowing that it was a state year and that it would be the last for the senior and for us juniors, our work payed off when for the first time in school history we went to finals in our Area competition. At that moment all of our hard work since the year before had payed off, all those mornings being outside all sweaty and smelly came to this moment, every run through we had even though the directors say "One more time" had made it worth it.
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Senior year approached and I knew that this would be the last time that I would be getting on the field with all the friends I have. I got learn new ways of becoming a leader when I went to the SASI camp during the summer and ways to teach and listen to everyone. So many things changed but it was for the better. We managed to learn our show fairly quick and so many more things were being achieved. I met so many new people and had so many new experiences. When the last time to perform came by I was sad but I knew that others will get to experience the same things I have and have this great feeling after marching and listening to the whole band play together for the first time in the summer. A first and last experience that will change the way they see many things in life.
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Band will always be a happy memory. The place where I could be with my friends and say good morning and actually mean it as well as goodnight. The place were we could all be grouchy with each other but still ask do you need anything? Where nothing is more important than "Have you seen my instrument/music/tuner/hat box/uniform/shoes/cap/water jug and sunscreen?". Where being early is being on time and being on time is to be late. Band for me is a place to be with pride.
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