As a high school marching band kid, I made it a point to always strive for excellence. Music was what made me happy, and I wanted to do whatever I could to be successful with it.

Yet of course, there were others in my band program that didn't feel the same way. Some only participated to earn their fine art credit that was required to graduate, and others took it so seriously that they were always stressed and grew to hate the program.

I was in the perfect middle of the two, taking it serious enough to make a difference, while also knowing when to have fun.

After I finished my third year of high school band, I realized I wanted something more. While I loved making music with these kids that I've known for a good majority of my life, I needed to experience what it was like to march drum corps. I worked hard and went to audition for a corps based in Austin in November of that year, and sadly, didn't earn a contract.

I didn't let that get me down, though.

I took the time after that to work with my instrument, and around June of that following year, I earned a contract with a smaller Texas corps. During that summer, I toured around Texas with 89 other fantastic musicians who loved music as much as I did, if not more.

My rookie year of drum corps opened the door to the other four years I had left to march before I turned 21 and "aged out" of the circuit.

I sadly have not marched since I was a rookie in the summer of 2015. The past three summers have been used to prepare for college and do other things that are more relevant to my future career. But here I am now, in November 2018, as I begin my age out season.

This is the last year I have the option to march drum corps. I've been working harder than ever to make sure I earn a contract so I don't miss out on marching this summer. As I reminisce on my history with drum corps, I can't help but get excited for what this last season holds for me.

I don't know where I'll end up or what corps I'll hopefully get to spend my last season with. I'm not sure what I'll get out of this season, or if it'll help me in the long run of life or not. There are a lot of things I don't know, but I do know that this summer will be like no other.

Drum Corps International has only left a positive impact on my life, and I'm ready for whatever it is that it has left for me.