The time had come. The award ceremony of the last competition of the marching band season, the National Championships for class IV A was beginning shortly. Being at the J. Birney Crum Stadium with the rest of band, as well as other marching bands from around the Northeast, was surreal. The energy was crackling through the air as we waited with anticipation for the ceremony to commence. Minutes before, all of us were watching a lively performance by Sacred Heart University. They performed many uplifting songs that I could not help but sing and dance along. I was surrounded by friends, who, after a short span of three months, became my second family. I did not realize that I could become so close to a large number of people in such a short