Reflection

I am incredibly proud of my ability to persevere through this project. I cannot count how many times I wanted to stop writing this show. I am so happy that I stuck with it and got to see the results. Having completed this project, I know that anything I have to work hard for will be worth it in the end.

I am also proud of my ability to coordinate the people who agreed to work with me. I found nine other musicians who were willing to learn a whole new show in their free time, and I was able to teach them the music and drill in just one month. We had a Monday and a Wednesday rehearsal every week, and, even though one of my friends had a club meeting every Monday during rehearsal and another could not show up to half of them, we were still able to pull through on the day of the performance. When I have to organize a large group again, I will make sure everyone involved is able to be present for all of the associated commitments, even if that means cutting people from the project.

For the past two years, I held leadership positions in both marching band and orchestra. It felt very fitting to organize a marching woodwind show with a cello solo or two, but there was still one question: What is the show about?

I really wanted the theme to represent all of my fine arts experience, meaning I had to figure out what made me take so many fine arts courses. I thought about why I joined in the first place, but every answer was different. That’s when I decided to stop asking myself why I joined the arts and start asking why I stayed. As it turns out, it was the friends I made and the community I found myself in that kept me in the arts. That is why I chose to do a marching show based on community.

All of my extra curricular activities that I listed on my hours log came from band camp. Every year, the Queen Creek High School Marching Band takes a week-long trip up to Emmanuel Pines to teach the basics of marching and the first few sets of drill. My favorite memories from band camp are me and my friends goofing off on our free time. Every year, I’ve come back sunburnt and sore, but, most of all, truly excited about the upcoming season. Band camp taught me how to balance learning and friendship. I learned how to “flip the sitch” (as Mr. Davenport likes to say) between having fun with my new friends and focusing on what I need to get done. No matter what I do, that skill will help me handle my commitments in a healthy way.

My involvement in the arts has given me a second home. I met so many amazing people in band and orchestra. Whenever life got hard to deal with, I had my music friends to turn to. The people I met also helped me gain the confidence to be myself, even if other people did not like me for it. Additionally, music has given me something to be proud of. School always came easily to me, but music has been a fun and fulfilling challenge that actually pushed me to work hard. I remember how I felt when I saw my name on the Jazz 2 roster after working with Mr. Hutchins for over a week on the audition music, or when I moved up a chair in the orchestra after working hard on the music for months. I remember Mr. Davenport Telling me that I made it into the top band and Mr. Hutchins telling me that I made it into the top orchestra. I remember working on scales for a week so I could actually play the music for Newsies. Each of those experiences have shaped the work ethic I have today. Music has given me so much more than the ability to play instruments. It helped me make friends and challenged me to get better at what I like to do. Without it, I would not be who I am today.

As I said before my performance, I do not plan on staying in music during college. I would love to be a music teacher, but I would make more money in engineering. Of course, if it turns out engineering is not for me, music education is my back-up plan. Even though I’m likely not going to have a music related career, I am still going to have my instruments. I would love to be part of a small group that plays in restaurants on the side or even just play music for my own enjoyment. No matter what career I get, music will always be a part of my life.

Whatever you choose to do—be it music or robotics or sports—make sure to get involved in after school activities. I have spent more time on campus than I have with my own family over the past four years, and I could not imagine going home right after school every day. You will find the time for homework, you will have your whole life ahead of you to get a job, but, if you have the chance to get involved with something you love, you won’t regret the time you spend doing it. Looking back on high school, the only thing I regret are the clubs I did not join and the classes I did not take.