As many of you know, I was a marching band kid in high school. I lived and breathed by band for four whole years, even though it felt like a lifetime. It became my life, and even though I do joke about it, it shaped who me into the person that I am today. I also made some pretty awesome friends in the process. There are a few things that every marching band kid knows is true though. Some facts that only those part of this elite group knows to be true. So, get ready non-marching band kids because you are about to learn a whole lot about marching band.

1. Not making plans at all during the weekend because you know that your Saturday will either be a 12-hour practice or a competition

The second marching season starts all your Saturdays are busy for the rest of forever.

2. Hearing all the sports and clubbed that have been canceled due to the weather and knowing that marching band will not be one of them

I can't tell you the amount of times that I went home with puddles in my shoes, but I was a woodwind, so I didn't have to take my instrument out for those practices. So I guess rainy days weren't so bad.

3. Putting on the uniform for the first time each season and experiencing that excitement for the upcoming season

The last week of band camp always meant band pictures and when we put the uniform on the hype for that upcoming season began. And the countless hours we had spent in the sun that summer didn't matter as much as more.

4. Knowing that no matter what the other sports say, you do work hard (maybe even harder than they do)

I mean what other activity or sport has 12 hour practices and practically lives at the school, only going home to sleep for a few hours.

5. Being at the school for 12 plus hours doesn't even faze you anymore

It gets to a point where it just feels weird if you're at the school for any shorter amount of time.

6. Applying for officer positions even though you know that it will mean that you’ll be at the school for even longer every day

We all said we were doing it to better the band, but we all know it was because it looked good on college applications.

7. Telling non-band people, you have a 12-hour practice just to see their reaction.

They mostly just think you're crazy and don't understand why you're voluntarily doing this. And honestly we don't understand why either.

8. Getting excited for banquet that year because you get to see everyone in a setting other than practice, where you’re all hot a sweaty

Its true guys, us band kids do clean up pretty nice.

9. People tell you band jokes even though you have heard all of them a thousand or more times

Yes, I have heard "that one time at band camp" joke about a billion times, so you don't need to say it when I say I did band.

Marching band helped to shape not only who I am today but also how I work. It encouraged me to develop a work ethic and that being “on time is late, and being early is on time”. It helped me to build amazing friendships, some of which I still have to this day. And even though I do make jokes about it, I wouldn’t change it for the world. It was my favorite thing about high school and I even miss it at times. No matter how old I am or what I am doing in life, I will always be a band kid. Okay now bring on the band jokes.