1. Arriving at school at 5:15AM to make a long trip on a smelly school bus.
I lived for these mornings. The chill of stepping out the door in my nylons and a skirt and then attempting not to get snow in my flats was a very chilly pep talk to tell me that things couldn't get worse than this. Except that one time that the bus didn't have heat. And we had to wait for half an hour on the freezing bus for another bus. Which took forever to heat up also. That was much worse.
2. Making friends with basically anyone.
The great thing was that you could talk to practically any other competitor at a tournament and make a friend.
3. Thinking your piece is great but then crying during someone else's piece because it was so good and then sitting in despair because you can't match their level of talent.
This was always the worst and best feeling. You always want to win at a tournament, but seeing your friends or other competitors perform a really solid piece so well that it brings you to tears makes you root for them over yourself. I experienced this many many times.
4. Thinking you didn't need time cards but then going wayyyyyyy over your time limit.
Big oops on anyone's part that did this.
5. Not understanding anything about the scoring when you first joined the team.
The scoring is so confusing honestly. The best gets a 1-100, second place generally gets a 2-99, then a 3-98 for third, 4- 97 for fourth, 5-96 for fifth, 6-95 for sixth, and 6-94 for seventh. Sometimes a judge won't think anyone was good enough for a 100 in the round so they might give first place a 1-97. Which made no sense and made everyone a bit crazy.
6. Sharing crazy stories on the bus ride home.
What happens on the forensics bus stays on the forensics bus.
7. Dreading a round that a well-known competitor is in.
Seeing the performances of really good and well-known competitors always fills the pit of your stomach with dread because they'll most likely do something slightly against the rules but not enough for them to get in trouble. Of course, if you did it, your coach would have a fit and the judge would dock points for it.
8. Receiving a very vague score sheet and having no clue why you got the score you did.
If it was a good score, you were happy. If it wasn't a good score, you probably threw your hands up in the air in frustration because you have no idea what you did wrong when you thought you did really well (like me).
9. Hoping you get a certain judge because you knew they specifically wouldn't do the aforementioned.
This one speaks for itself.
10. Having a slightly crazy coach.
Our coaches are our best friends but can become our worst nightmare if we anger them, such as specifically doing something in your piece that they said not to, or running late for a tournament, or forgetting a printed copy of your piece. Do not do those things. Those are very bad things.
11. Loving how all the hard work and all the crazy practices pay off.
You know all those aggravating moments of not getting the intonation of something right and those grueling rounds are worth it when you receive a 1-100. Even on your bad days when you don't even break to semi-finals, your forensic family is there for you and you know it's all worth it.
