LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP

The following is the wining essay written about the importance of leadership in marching band:

Leadership is the cornerstone of any good marching band. It means making decisions that affect the whole group, going out of your way to help others, and setting an example for everyone. There are plenty of opportunities for anyone to lead, even if they do not have an official position. I learned all these things about leadership through marching band, which will inevitably benefit me later in life.

While I did not have any leadership positions, there were many instances where I did step up to be a leader. As a big, I helped my little find his sets and learn his music at band camp. I was even able to help people who were not my little. When I first joined, I relied on the help of others for things I now believe to be simple. That is why once I became an upperclassman, I decided it would be best to make the younger kids feel welcome the same way the now-graduated band members did.

I learned that one of the best ways to improve your leadership skills can be done through your actions alone. The best kind of leader leads by example. If I made good choices and helped out, I saw that others would be more likely to follow. For instance, If I were going down to help grab props for the show, other people would see me and help out without being told to. I began to understand that if there was a particular trait I wanted to see in my fellow band members, the best thing I could do was to demonstrate that trait to the best of my ability.

I learned that many rewards came from my leadership in marching band. I witnessed many others grow and succeed due to my leadership. I also overcame many challenges I faced as a leader, which made me stronger as a person. Seeing growth in my interpersonal skills was a huge motivator for me when it came to stepping up to leadership. In addition to the growth I saw in myself and others, I also got to feel valued as a member of the drumline and the band as a whole.

In addition to the many rewards, there were also many challenges. While I consider myself a selfless person, it can still be hard for me sometimes to always put others before myself. As a leader, that is one of the things I needed to do. There have been instances of games where it has rained, and I just wanted to return home, but then I stayed and helped others dry their drums because it was the right thing to do. Going out of your way to help others may not always be the most comfortable decision, but it truly makes a good leader.

The lessons I learned throughout my time in marching band will be invaluable to me for the rest of my life. As an aspiring engineer, leadership will be invaluable to me in my future career. Projects will need supervisors, or nothing will get done. I also plan to be active in my community when I am older, and leadership skills are the best way to help make a difference. To sum up, marching band has helped me become a better leader by allowing me to help others and lead by example.

• Daniel Hock (2024)