Personal Narrative: My Decision To Join The Anacortes Band

During marching season we had many performance in state and one out in St. George. The big highlight of marching band was performing in the 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade and a band feast. I have never prepared for something that long and hard in my life. While people were out of town during winter break I was up in the mornings marching around our track playing Holiday road and Flight of Falcones. Even we spent so many time and sweat preparing for it I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being with my friends doing, probably, the greatest thing I have ever been apart of is so mind-boggling. My closest friends are in band and that is a reason I will never quick. That was not the last thing I have done, as a second band we were asked to perform at Ham Hall. Which is incredible to get the opportunity to perform on a “real

I was only a few days in when I stepped back and noticed something, all the leaders were missing out on other opportunities. They were consumed with responsibilities and so narrow minded towards band that most of them were missing the fun times outside of their narrow vision. When they were given new opportunities outside of band they mostly ignored them because they only had one thing on their mind. It made me realize that all the duties I’ve done for band had given me more opportunities to be a new different leader around the school. By not being a leader in the band I was allowed to see them. I was offered a position on the Academic counsel that I might have said no to if I was too fixated on band. The failure had allowed me to learn to be not so fixated on one

Boy Scouts has taught me many skills and truths for life, but no skill has had as much impact as servant leadership---the ability to gain the trust of those around you by helping them. Being active and a leader in a group happens naturally now; after years of following, I find myself leading my friends. Whether it was because of being a Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and Eagle Scout in my troop or, I have drawn in new friends who have grown to look to me as a leader. At the beginning of this school year I drew in many new friends who look to me as a leader. This year I was fulltime dual enrolled at the University of North Georgia which gave me the opportunity to make new friends.

When I was a child my mother would take me to the Oktoberfest parade each year to watch the marching bands. I still remember standing on the sidewalk eagerly waiting for the sound of cadence from the drums; the bass drum like the pulse of a living creature and the sound still playing in my mind long after the parade had ended. Years flew by and suddenly I found myself standing in block band awaiting the three sharp chirps of the drum major 's stainless steel whistle a signal that would spark a chain reaction causing each row to step off like a well-oiled machine. Standing as still as statues we waited until the drum major had called "Band ten hut!" after one short whistle and one long whistle the signal that we were about to step off. We answered

From the moment, “If you miss the next week of band camp, someone else will be marching in your spot,” flew out of my band director’s mouth and slapped me across the face, all chances of having the best marching band season ever disappeared. Freshman year was ruined. At first, I had no thoughts, no expressions, or feelings. Then a melody of “whys?” tried to harmonize with clusters of reasons, begetting a dissonance of buzzing in my head, “Why was I being punished for going on a vacation with my family? Why is this happening to me?” The mental chaos came to an ease and there was finally resonance in my thoughts. I finally understood what my director’s words meant: I would be learning to march the show but I would not be performing the show.

Parts of rehearsals would pass by being unproductive and even though by the time we needed to perform people weren 't able to tell, it 's hard for me not to wonder how much better we could have been if that time wasn 't wasted. When the date for band position annoucements came along, I knew what I would get and I wasn 't upset at all. When Dr. Kayser annouced the names of the three Drill Sergeants, my heart was bursting with pride. You see, drill sergeant is the highest position one can get in band in which one may also play an instrument. If I had received drum major as I hoped, I would have been more than happy to lead the group, but would have missed dearly being a part of the sound that comes along with the band. I was given the opportunity to lead and also lead by example. I showed how a strong unit works together to perform tasks and get the job of putting together an ensemble done effectively, and also still play the instrument I love dearly. People have come up to me saying how I inspired them, or how my job as a drill sergeant as extremely well done. I have so much pride for what I accomplished as a leader of the band. I was able to go home after a game and not only say that I was a part of such an amazing group, but I was a major factor in what made them so amazing

I remember the second half of my eighth grade year when I made second alternative for All-State band. I was semi pleased with my results, but I knew I could achieve better. I told Mr.C

In these past two years I have earned multiple merit badges, hiked many miles, camped for countless nights, and most importantly learned how to be a leader. In the beginning being a leader sounded terrifying. I never thought I would be able to handle such an important position

Every single time, I grow a closer and closer bond with my instrument, while being pushed with music that is not in my normal technique level. Usually, in these groups, we have a guest conductor who guides us through how to play the passage. Last year, my director said something that I will never forget for as long as I play music. During our concert, before we played our piece, he turned to the audience and gave a small speech. He said, “Music is the key to solving all of Earth’s problems,” and while it may seem incredibly farfetched, there is certainly some truth to what he was saying. When people do, in fact, make music together, it establishes a

At the beginning of this summer I reluctantly attended a leadership seminar that was held at my school. What high school student wants to come to school, in full uniform, during break to hear about leadership? Certainly not me. As a senior, my teachers urged me, with incredible persistence, to attend. I eventually caved and went. In the midst of my annoyance and regret, something from the seminar stuck with me: “introverts can be good leaders.” Upon hearing that I felt more comfortable being the quiet one during a discussion. Someone finally confirmed that effective leaders aren 't limited to gregarious and forceful types but are open to INTP personalities like myself.

Through high school I have been a part of my school's marching band, and for the last three years I have held a position as a drum major. My role as drum major was not only to lead the band musically but also to lead them mentally. I needed to make sure that everyone was in good spirits, and I also needed to have a healthy level of communication with the band and our director. After my sophomore year, our band director retired and was replaced by a young director who had just graduated college. Our first year without our old director went well because he kept us under his wing and gave our new director advice. During my senior year, though, our old director had become busy and let go almost completely. This gave our new director the freedom to teach as he pleased. Older members of the band had very little faith in our director, and they were pushing their negative opinions off onto the rest of our band. The level of trust and respect for our director were very low.

My most recent service immersion trip to Bogota Colombia has impacted me in ways I could not explain. Looking back on the experiences I had with the group and the relationships I formed, even more meaning surfaces from the trip. This was only my second trip, but the unique environment truly brings out and emphasizes the development of group dynamics. I not only learned from the new communities, but also from the group as a whole and from the members as individuals – each interaction having their own meaning. Lastly, I was able to learn from our wonderful leader and experience helpful leadership skills.

I walked into the band room with my heart in my throat, my hands twisting into knots. Why was I here? I didn’t want to be in band- it looked like so much work. I sat before the 5th grade band director, who proceeded to hand me a variety of different mouthpieces and ligatures to find the best fit. My hombrecher was too loose for the trumpet, my hands too small for the saxophone. We finally decided on the clarinet.

When my former band director Charles Conner left i learned that a lot of people was dedicated to and the last thing he told me was stay dedicated to the program, not just any program a program named the MMB. A program that has taken me places i thought i could never go. It has save my life literally i remember my freshman year when i had ran my mouth to much and i was on an hit list but people in band talked to the boys and now them boys are looking out for me. That 's how band has affected my life. Band has taught me how to stand up for myself but in standing up for yourself you have to be able to back everything up. In band i have found a famliy like no other i have found a family like no other i have found a family that loves you when you are doing wrong and doing right, its a family that you can get i trouble but they still love you. Marching band has brought a side out of me i didnt know i had i was always told i was a leader but in band when your a leader you really have to stay on top of you game in every aspect such as in band because there always someone trying to get your spot. In school you have have to be on top of your game because some people hate to see the band succeed and would do anything to get us back to a role step band. But as a leader i have learned that the best way to stop bad plans is to to do

I came as a counselor to National Youth Leadership Training expecting to teach kids to be the next generation of young leaders. I was dead wrong. Not only did I fail to build and form cohesive leaders, they taught me more than I could have ever taught them.