The floodlights were the first things you felt stepping onto the football field to perform. Like a beacon, they shone down on you, illuminating every movement of your body and every key on your instrument. Ringing in your ears are the shouts of the crowd, the booming voice of the announcer calling out your school’s name. You take a deep breath, feeling the soft grass beneath your shoes, grounding yourself for a minute. In this moment you don’t think about the starchy stiffness of your uniform or the slightly off-center heaviness of the feather in your hat. A sense of calm comes over you, your eyes falling on all the people beside you, in front of you, behind you on the field. Then comes the realization. This is it. This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for.

I was never amazing at band in high school (and no, trust me, I’m not just being modest). However one place where I felt I truly belonged, was in the marching band. For four years I immersed myself in the culture and community of the band program at my school. And now, as a college freshman, watching my marching band grow without me, I miss a lot of things I took for granted.

1. Having a great show.

There’s just those shows where you feel like you nailed it. Even though a trumpet definitely played a wrong note, you’re pretty sure the judges didn’t hear it and you’ll place well anyway.

2. Finding a community who likes music just as much as you.

Everyone who does marching band at one point or another embraces their nerdiness and just geeks out about a cool chromatic run or dynamic change. There’s something nice about being able to be yourself without anyone else judging you for it.

3. Working really hard and having it all pay off.

All the hours and hours of running back and forth on the field, of memorizing music, of dehydration and sunburn all seems worth it when you finally perform your last show of the season. Just looking back on how far you’ve come, especially through the difficult times is truly an incredible feeling.

4. So. Many. Inside. Jokes.

Because you spend so much time during practice and on the field with your band, there’s some shared experiences that don’t go away. Somehow laughing over the tough experiences together makes it easier to manage.

5. Everyone looks out for each other.

In a sense your band is your family. They all check to make sure your feather is straight on your helmet and that your pant legs are buttoned up evenly in preparation for a show, but also they make sure you’re getting enough water and give you tips on how to memorize your music faster or to make practice easier.

6. The creativity of the coordinates.

Some of the shows some marching bands put together are pretty elaborate. Each show is different and it’s mesmerizing to see what groups perform using only body movements. Going to competitions never get old because bands are constantly improving and adding to their technique.

7. Sharing awkward tan lines.

Hours and hours spent in the sun will do that to you. But laughing about the awkwardness of it all will be a bonding experience later on, trust me.

8. The amazing fan base.

Thousands show up annually to watch Drum Core International (DCI) bands, the major league equivalent of marching band. According to the DCI website, more than 400,000 fans attend the show live. The band community holds so much respect for what both students and those at a professional level do to put on such amazing performances and it’s apparent in their dedication to the activity.

9. The power of teamwork.

Marching band really is a team activity. No one can function without the dedication and effort of others and it takes a lot of trust and dedication to make a show work.

10. Growing up together.

In marching band, you grew up with the people you surrounded yourself with. From gangly uncoordinated freshmen to (still somewhat gangly) seniors, we learned more about ourselves and watched ourselves grow into the people we are today. Through the hardships we faced, we faced them together and pushed ourselves to depths we didn’t even know we were capable of.

Ultimately, marching band is a lot of work and may seem a little bit nerdy, but it was definitely one of the highlights of my high school career. Joining marching band gave me a family and helped me prepare for the latter parts of my life. It's something that's hard to replicate, and without it, my life would definitely... (pardon the pun) b(e) flat.