The famous Jesse Owens once said, “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” This quote is a mirror image of the mindset I carry. Playing music for the last decade has taught me what it means to truly embody this quote. As a member of the marching band in high school, I learned to incorporate this quote into everything I do in order to become truly successful. My directors did a phenomenal job of instilling the idea that goals are always attainable, no matter how far out of reach they may seem. Our goal as a marching band every year is to qualify for the Texas State Marching Band Contest. With my freshman year being nonexistent due to COVID, sophomore year missing state by two places, and then finally …show more content…
No way we’re going to win,” said my colleagues. Hearing the mentality people had, especially going into my senior year, was troublesome. All I wanted was to have an amazing marching season with my friends. One last hurrah. It was then that I decided I wasn’t going to fall into the complacency my peers did. With the experience of a two-time Head Drum Major, my job was clear: lead my band to their full potential no matter what. I had tunnel vision from that point on and made my expectations clear. I pushed, not just myself, but the entire band with every rep we did. “With every rep, we get...better!” was a common chant that echoed the marching practice pad to remind ourselves of our “why”. Going into our competition season, it was nerve-racking yet calming. Though this past marching season was one of, if not, the best in school history, the day of the Area Marching Contest was terrifying. We, as a band, performed amazing, so much so, that tears of pure joy poured down my face as I walked off the field. Award time came to an end, and for the first time in five years, United High School was going back to the State Marching