I’ve participated in marching band for the last four years at Central Hardin. I started my first and last seasons both filled with doubt and anxiousness. But for different reasons. My first year, I was nervous about every little thing: getting step sizes right, being in time, making friends, and so on. My first season was definitely a struggle for me, but my sophomore and junior seasons went by with a breeze. My senior year was filled with that same feeling of anxiousness. I was worried about the changes that would come with the new director change. 

When our band camp started, I was a nervous wreck. I didn’t know how different the pedagogies would be between the two directors as everyone teaches differently. I grew fond of Mr. Centers’ style  of slow and steady wins the race. Mr. Ervin’s more rapid pace was difficult to adjust to at first, but I soon realized it was the same material, just presented and taught in a different way.  

The director change taught me a lot about how well I adjust to changes and how I need to get better at change. This is one of the many things marching band had taught me, life lessons I’d need to be successful. However, I didn’t have to experience these lessons through mistakes I made. I learned them through example with a side of music. 

Band taught me about being on time. The motto, “to be on time is to be early, to be on time, is to be late, and late… well you’re dead,” was something I learned within my first week of marching band. This idea became so ingrained in my head that I can no longer bear to be somewhere at least 15 minutes before I’m needed, whether it be my cousin’s wedding or a rehearsal. I always strive for those measly 15 minutes. Sometimes I even strive to be 30 minutes early, depending on the scenario, just so I don’t feel rushed. 

This timeliness habit has made me stress out if I don’t stick to my schedules. If I leave three minutes later than usual, I go into full on panic mode. Which could help me in the future to not run late and to always be early. 

Through biweekly competitions and camp days, you learn how to deal with deprivation, and to be quite frank, early call times at three in the morning were tough, especially after a football game when you didn’t get home until midnight. 

From the outside, marching band may look like this harsh, uptight community, but on the inside of the program, it was never like that. It allowed me to form unbreakable bonds and friendships with so many people. Through band, I learned what it felt like to be a part of a framily. I never had the struggle of figuring out where I belonged because of band. 

I felt like I had belonged in band because all of us had a common goal: touch people with our music and make an impact on them. 

I was able to see our impact last season when we performed our program, Building Bridges. This show held a special place in my heart because of the show theme and message behind it. This show was about how music bridges people together and how music can be a universal language. Our ballad and reprise, Bridge Over Troubled Water, allowed us to hit the soft spots of many. Parents in the stands told us they saw multiple people tearing up in the stands. As a musician, it’s by far one of the most rewarding things to hear and knowing that your music made an impact on someone. It’s a powerful feeling, really. 

Although band was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, there were struggles. There were times where I genuinely felt as though I had missed out on aspects of the high school experience. 

I never had the opportunity to go to the football homecoming dance. I never got to experience sitting in the student section and participating in the themes Pep Club chose. Or even go to a soccer game. I missed out on small experiences all throughout the year because I had rehearsal or a competition. 

While I never got to experience these moments, I did get to experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. I got to perform at a national competition three years in a row. I may not have gotten some of the basic high school experience checkpoints, but I did get the chance not many students get.

I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to do marching band. I learned so many of the harsh realities in life whilst being able to form unbreakable bonds with so many people and being able to touch the lives of others. It forced me to push myself further out of my comfort zone and really allowed for self growth. My one hope is that I will continue to carry this perseverance with me for the rest of my life.