As someone who entered high school band in the 8th grade, I've got quite a few years under my belt. Also, as someone who has moved high schools and still always joined the band, I have a wide variety of experience in many situations. Here are a few things that these 5 years taught me, and how I grew as a person.

1. The sunrise is extremely beautiful.

Having to be at school at 6:45 with your equipment set up is quite a challenge. Through all of my years, I've discovered that it's totally worth it when the sky looks like a work of art.

2. Marching is a lot harder than it looks.

You might fall on your face a few times too. I used to think that it was going to be easy, but then with my coordinate sheet, I started to forget which yard lines were which and what dot I was supposed to be on. Sadly, they all look the same, and for a mere 8th-grade drumline member, it can get confusing.

3. You better start with your left foot...or else.

In order for everyone to look the same, there's got to be a system. If you start with your right foot, you're basically done for.

4. Staying in step is not easy.

"Left, right, left, right, hit, right, left, right... what measure is this?" As noted before, you have to re-learn how to walk. Oh, and walk a specific way too. Heel-toe, heel-toe, heel-toe.

5.Parades are the worst. I'm sorry.

No parade is as glamorous as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Your local Christmas parade or Fourth of July parade usually entails sweat, lots of walking, and playing the same song on repeat for a mile.

6. Your memory is tested.

I learned that once I had the first two movements down, memorizing the third one came to be a lot easier... except that when I learned the third one, I forgot the first. Your memory is really your best friend in marching band. Eventually, I learned what needed to be played at what spot I was at, but connecting the two was really difficult.

7. There's nothing you cannot do.

Marching band is full of hardships. I moved schools, quit drumline, and moved to the front ensemble. Coming into sophomore year at a 7th-grade skill level in any mallet instrument was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done. However, with a great teacher who saw my potential, I learned that if you put your mind to something, there's nothing that cannot be accomplished. By my senior year, I was playing a four mallet solo at the state competition.

8. Marching season is the longest and shortest time of the year.

During marching season, you feel like it will never end. When it's over, you feel like it flew by. Being in the band really means waiting until marching season, and then being upset when it's over every single year. Senior year is the worst because you realize that you won't ever get to go through another marching season and that yes, it is truly over.

9. The friendships formed last forever.

There's nothing quite like spending every single weekend with someone for two months, sharing hotel rooms, being totally sleep deprived, and getting into a *little bit of trouble together.

10. I will always miss it.

As a freshman in college, there's always a part of me that wants to be doing what I loved in High School because there's truly nothing like it. Marching band took up so much of my time and was extremely physically and emotionally demanding, and it played a big role in my life. Now that it's gone, I've had to find things to fill that void.