Everyone has experiences in life that affect them in a way that is life-changing. They are experiences we are not able to let go of. Whether it is going to your first concert, getting married, or holding your firstborn child, we all face these times and keep them in the forefront of our memory. Sometimes those experiences are bad and we take use them to become a better version of ourselves. For me, one of the greatest experiences I have had in my nineteen years of life was attending the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy (hereafter DMA). The lessons I learned at this week-long camp have completely changed my outlook on the way I view things in life. I must say, after a week, I left with a new outlook and a new attitude.
Starred thought: Constant encouragement is key.
Since DMA, I have seen this becoming more and more important in every facet of life. Throughout working a part-time job and, especially, throughout the time I have spent so far working toward a degree in education, I have seen the importance of encouragement. It is like the oil that keeps the machine running smoothly. When encouragement lacks, the machine runs slower. Some parts do not want to work anymore and the machine fails and breaks. We must oil the machine with encouragement to ensure that the best product will come out of it.
Starred thought: To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, to be late is to be never.
This is a lesson that has become extremely necessary for me. It was finally put into perspective at DMA that showing up early to something (whether it is rehearsal or work or a meeting) is key to success. Arriving early ensures that you have some time to yourself to mentally (and sometimes physically) prepare for what is ahead. It also shows dedication to those around you. When others are walking in, you are on your game and ready to go.
Starred thought: Be willing to learn from everyone.
This one seems to have many interpretations. I think of it in a few different ways. One of those ways is to take it at face value. Learn from everyone. This starred thought has helped me better understand that there are multiple ways to look at something and no two people are going to see the same thing the same way. So instead of jumping down people’s throats to ensure that your way of thinking or doing is the only way of thinking or doing, hear other people out. Take the time to learn about other points of view, and to acknowledge that their thoughts are valid. In Dead Poet’s Society, Robin Williams’s character John Keating stressed the point of “take a different view” to his students. And that is exactly what I have taken away from this starred thought. Take a different view, and learn how to think and do a little bit differently. It cannot harm you.
Starred thought: You never get a second chance at a first impression.
I feel that this is an incredibly important statement. I have always thought about this whenever I have to make a first impression. Whether it's at a job interview or even a “meeting the parents” situation. This has helped me to gain more confidence in meeting people and ensuring that I let a person know exactly what I am about in as little time as possible. It has helped me take first impressions more seriously and more respectfully. Since leaving DMA, this has certainly been one of the most helpful starred thoughts.
Starred thought: You have no power, don’t let your band know that.
This thought was the most important, to me. It helped me see that no one really has power over you. Let’s equate it to the work place for a moment. For me, I work as a cart-pusher and/or bagger for the Stop and Shop corporation. We have other positions that are considered higher (and most likely, more respectable) such as: CEO, Store Manager, Department Manager, District Manager, etc. But again, the corporation needs to run like a well-oiled machine in order to produce the best product. When people begin to inflate their egos because they gain a title, that is when the machine begins to fail. I carry this starred thought with me whenever I become a part of, or “rise in the ranks” in, a group or work force. There should be a level of respect for your superiors, but they should also immediately return the respect. However, they are not the pharaoh, rather the first among equals.
Starred thought: Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you expected.
These words still ring true as I transfer them from my DMA notebook to this article. Now, when I read this starred thought, I see how true it is. When I went to DMA, I did not get what I expected at all. I went in with the expectation that it would be a week of intensive learning about leading a marching band. But it was a lot more than that. I left with a new outlook on things, a new attitude, and life lessons that carry far beyond the football field and the parade route. For that I owe an immense debt of gratitude to every faculty member and student at DMA: UMass 2014. You have all given me an experience I will always carry with me.
