I joined the percussion section of the band in middle school because I liked playing drum set on the video game "rock band."
Let's just sort this out now: I have never ever ever ever played drum set (with the exception of middle school drum sets). I played everything from bells to xylophone (along with the "large xylophone" aka a marimba) to snare drum to timpani to the triangle ... and one thing is for sure: I never totally thought being musically talented should be seen as "lame."
I later joined the Dodgen Middle School percussion ensemble (Yes that's me, the only girl, who is wearing a bright red tee shirt below) ...
... because I wanted to get better and improve.
My freshman year of high school I kept up with concert band; however, I opted out of marching band because I thought it was lame and I would have no friends. At the time, being an annoying, 14-year-old girl, I thought being popular was the most important thing on the planet.
Being in band, people tease you. Although being in the percussion may come off as being in the "less lame" section (thank you, "Drum Line, The Movie") it does actually impact people from joining or not joining in the program.
After I decided that I wasn't meant to be popular and all of that, I decided to join band. I was nervous, and even hid my face sometimes at games. Some people made fun, and some were supportive. I actually had someone tell me once "I don't think I could respect you if you joined that stupid indoor drum line ... marching band is bad enough." It hurt, but not as much as the hurt when the news came that we actually wouldn't be continuing indoor at our high school after 2011.
I went to band camp going into my sophomore year, learned my music as Marimba 3, and played in front of our entire high school.
My first competition was at Wando High School in South Carolina. We met the band the next day at the beach in Isle of Palms, and that's when I realized how many friends and connections you can make through an organization like band. 
We played several competitions and shows each year. These were mainly at local high schools, but some were at colleges such as Jacksonville State University in Alabama.
Through band, you make tons of friends. Whether they're in your section or not, you make a family and a long-lasting bond with those people.
If you're lucky, you may even become a mentor, teacher, and/or inspiration to those who are younger than you and practicing to become the next "center" (best) in the section.
Sometimes those kids you're teaching become some of your best friends.
As my senior year of high school came to a close, I decided to start working on my auditions for college in the following semester. At the time I was soloist for the percussion ensemble, one of the concert section leaders, and taking four AP classes out of my five for which I had signed up. I had a lot on my plate.I worked on "Firefish" by Blake Tyson for months on end, along with the a Circone snare solo. At the audition itself, I actually sight-read a timpani solo despite having not ever played it and having the timpani set up in a different style than I was accustomed to. I thought my audition went well, and I later found out I received a high non-music major scholarship for it. Along with concert band, I joined the Famous Maroon Marching Band's front ensemble ...
... and made a family there as well ...
and not just in my section either ...
Performing has always been a creative outlet for me, and marching band has always sufficiently filled that love for me. Despite it being program that may not be as fincially or culturally supportive, it is an amazing organization to join. Not only does it allow me to express myself through music, but it allows me to meet people with the same love. Percussion is a passionate instrumental section, and having a band family like mine makes it 1,000 times better.
