To my Drum Corps Family:

In just four short weeks, we will be moving in together for a life-changing summer. At this point, we're essentially strangers: we might be friends on Facebook or have met for a few days at camp, but ultimately we don't know each other yet. In four weeks, all 150 of us will move in together and from that point on, we will share every minute of our lives for an entire summer.

I'm excited to know you, family. I'm excited to become a part of this organization. I'm excited to sweat with you and work with you and sleep on gym floors and tour buses with you. Most of all, I'm excited to perform with you. I cannot even fathom the pride we'll feel in just a few short weeks when people cheer for the show that right now is nothing more than a concept in our minds.

Family, I cannot promise that I'll love every minute. That may sound strange to say, but does anyone really love early-morning physical training or four-hour dance blocks? I'm sure there will be rough days for all of us--days when our muscles ache or we're just exhausted and it's hard to push through, but we'll push through anyways because this experience is about the sum total of all these little parts. Each rehearsal block, night on a gym floor, tour bus ride, and show add up to the Drum Corps Experience, which is rumored to be quite fantastic.

I can't pretend I know what to expect, because I've never done this before. I've gone to the camp weekends, the "educational experiences," the auditions, and now it's finally my time to be an actual member. I must admit I'm a little nervous. This summer is going to be more physically and mentally demanding than anything I've ever done before, and that's intimidating. It looks like an uphill battle to me, but this mountain is one I've waited my whole life for the chance to climb.

To my drum corps family: I call you "family" already because that's what we will inevitably become. No matter what our differences, we share one common bond: the logo, colors, and title of our corps. Just one little symbol, like the Delta in my case, unites almost 200 of us. Already, even though we've only just met, I'm overwhelmed by the support, kindness, and helpfulness exhibited by the veteran members of my corps. I have been welcomed in with open arms and I could not feel more at home. It's been only a week since we met, and already I cannot wait to see what this summer has in store.

This summer is going to be an adventure of epic proportions, and I cannot wait to share it with you. I'm nervously, faithfully and eagerly counting down the days until move-ins. Until then, I've got Georgia on my mind.

Sincerely,

An Excited New Member