Marching Band & Me
First of all, I certainly want to congratulate the Braden River High School Marching Band of Pirates for the receipt of numerous laurels at their most recent competition. First in class and second overall? The show must be absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to see it, via video or in-person.
With this in mind and all of these marching band-related FB posts overwhelming my feed, it got me thinkin'. What did Marching Band mean to me then and what does it mean to me now? Even more important, how I am different now as result of leaving band altogether as I entered college career? I find that have great amounts of time in college to sit, think, and reflect, and so that I do.
As a high school student, Marching Band was my home way from home, truly a family that I loved and cared for with all the energy and being I possessed. It's quite remarkable to imagine that I am who I am today because of the environment Marching Band afforded me and so many others. High school would have been a lot tougher to have done without, and so I am eternally grateful for the opportunities Marching Band presented me.
It was a source of inspiration. As a Drum Major, I knew I wanted to represent the band well inside and outside of the music department. With that goal in mind, I poured hours of time and effort into my academics and other extracurricular activities to prove that Marching Band students were really some of the best students overall. To what degree that proved successful is debatable, but the Marching Band has now garnered great respect through its own accomplishments as well as those of its members.
Looking back, Marching Band forced me out of my comfort zone. Simple as that.
Do I miss it? Yes.
But as a college student, do I still need it? That answer is in the process of being discovered.
As a freshman at the University of Florida, I am not currently involved with the Pride of the Sunshine UF Marching Band. I've had the chance to meet some really nice people who are in the band and see the band in actual performance, but I have not yet been convinced that it has enough innate value to justify the time commitment. Then again, I really can't say because I just don't know what it's like to march at Florida Field in front of an audience counting 80,000+. I'm still looking into it and a final decision hasn't been made.
Removed from Marching Band for the past few months, I wouldn't say I'm any different. Who I became in Marching Band stayed with me. I still conduct when I hear music, I still walk on my left to the downbeat of music, and I still have that enthusiasm that spills over into everything else in my life.
To close, I'll leave you with my admissions essay to the University of Florida. Rereading it, it's not my best work, but it meant the most to me. The topic: Marching Band.
Assembled below the shining stadium lights of the Tropicana Dome for the Florida Marching Band Coalition’s 2009 Olympic Finals Retreat, I led our marching band of eighty students as Drum Major. I was proud to be a member of our ensemble that earned this statewide recognition for the first time in Braden River High School’s short five-year existence. The climb accomplished, success was finally before us.
I had wholeheartedly accepted the appointment of Drum Major in the spring of my sophomore year. The role led me to balance strenuous AP coursework and extracurricular organizations including Future Business Leaders of America and Tri-M Music Honor Society. I marched toward these challenges, inexperienced, willing to learn.
My first test—my own work ethic. Marching band rehearsals ran twice a week for three hours in the evening with accompanying football games and competitions that supplemented the regular-teen weekend experience. Rehearsals required extensive energy and focus, and I often went without sleep in order to accomplish what needed to be done. In my junior year, the AP coursework and Vice Presidency of FBLA competed for my compressed time. This balancing act required me to organize and prioritize, understanding that each step forward was in the right direction. As of late, I have passed five out of five AP Exams with a score of 4 or above and have been selected as the current FBLA President.
My involvement with this rapidly growing band has taught me the importance of positive communication and shared understanding with regard to leadership. The Drum Major’s responsibility is to lead the band in the right direction. Members may be arriving to rehearsal from homes where parents fight tirelessly or from families who are on the verge of collapse; these members dearly need something to smile about, a safe haven. Marching band is its own community, its own family, and we take care of each other.
Another trial in leadership entailed the application of rules. For all members, the law of the band is the same, but every member is their own individual. To be frank, the band has its tough guys and its criers. In some situations, application must be tailored to the individual. This basic tenet of leadership is the most powerful lesson of my tenure. Ultimately, working with personalities of diverse backgrounds in many different organizations has increased my effectiveness in all organizations in which I participate, further improving the experience of all involved.
All in all, at Braden River High has proved to be the most rewarding experience in my life, impacting my academic and extracurricular pursuits. Pausing at this peak of success, I have learned that life’s jagged path across the mountain’s peaks and valleys leads to a spectacular view when the summit is reached. I hope to bring my knowledge of the disciplines of marching band and general leadership to the Yale University. There are higher summits and peaks on the horizon.