If you read my previous article, you know all about my battle with depression in middle school. Now I want to talk about the one thing that ultimately got me through the Hell I was going through, band. Being in band was the one thing that kept me slightly sane during the three years of Hell I went through. Why? The band room was the only place I felt safe, I knew as long as I was there, nothing would happen to me. Now everyone has heard the term “band geek”, but I am proud to have that title on my shoulders. It is the one title that will never upset me.

Why the band room? The band room was the only place I could be myself with little or no judgement. I could express myself through music. If I was feeling sad and the band would play a sad piece it would help me feel better because I expressed how I was feeling through the music. Most of my close friends were also in the band, which gave me another reason to be in the band room. We were allowed to eat lunch in the band room, and I did most of the time. We were also allowed to spend free periods in the band room, and I did. Any time I had the chance to go to the band room, I did. Being in band is part of the reason I am still here today.

High school was only slightly better than middle school, but still, being in band made my life much better. The main difference however, was marching band. Marching band gave me something to escape to outside of school. Practices were hard, yes, but I was surrounded by friends and people who were like me. I met my best friend through marching band, and I am happy to say that she and I are still best friends after all these years. The friends you make in band and marching band are lifelong friends. You all go through so much together. Practices, bus rides, football games, competitions, it would be unheard of if some bonding didn’t occur. The inside jokes you share with your friends are usually the funniest jokes you have ever heard. Oh, and don’t forget the fact that everyone quotes the marching band episode of Spongebob nonstop. Band is the one place where you are forced to be around people for an extended period of time but it doesn’t matter because you all get along no matter what.

I will be forever grateful to the friends and teachers I’ve had during band. I will never forget them and I will always owe them my life. It is because of them that I am alive today and that I am who I am. Band is something that I think every individual should experience. If you haven’t been i band and you still have a chance, do it. I guarantee you will not regret it. I know I didn’t, if I could go back in time I would still be in band, no matter what.