When I left for college, I was 100 percent absolutely terrified to move to Nevada. A California beach kid, I knew exactly one person who would be attending Nevada with me. I had always been in school bands, and my parents pressured me to audition for the Pride of The Sierra marching band. I did, and I strongly believe that it's made me the successful and motivated person I am today.
As someone who was never particularly dedicated to anything in high school, barely scraping by in most of my work, I knew I wanted to change my habits for my college years. I also knew that I needed to make friends, and marching band gave me the foundation for me to connect with campus.
Band Camp
Freshman move into the dorms the Thursday before classes start...usually. Those who participate in the Freshman Fit programs or are in the marching band move in five days early. After moving in without the stress and crowds of regular check-in day, I say adios to my parents and headed to find the music building. Band camp runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. the entire week before school starts, to give the marching band an early start to learn new routines and memorize our performances. I'd never participated in anything so intense in my entire life.
Honestly, I thought about quitting the band a lot in the first few days. I couldn't believe how tired I was, or how much work we were putting into halftime shows. Memories of working this hard, in the burning Nevada sun for hours at a time, is what kept me working on essays and group projects when I wanted to give up and take the failing grade.
It also gave me the chance to meet dozens of people and make friends with other freshmen before freshman were really even on campus. By the time my roommates moved into the dorms, I had already made friends and was getting dressed to go out the first Saturday in Reno. Being around people for fourteen hours a day for a week creates a bond, and some of the friends I made during that week are now my roommates off-campus.
Involvement
Besides the free access to pretty much every great sporting event on campus, the band filled the hole that many freshmen have if they don't get involved right away. I was so busy with football season that I never really had time to be homesick or to miss my high school friends. I knew enough people on campus that I always had someone to eat with, and they gave me the confidence and the push I needed to join clubs and apply for a DJ spot with Wolf Pack Radio.
Thoughts
By the time your read this article on your news feed, band camp will be well underway. I will be covered in sweat, marching in the sun and making some of the most important memories of my life. To those in college marching bands, whether the Pride of the Sierra or bands on other campuses, do not give up during hell week. Give it a year before you decide whether or not to quit the band. Between traveling and meeting hundreds of new people with interests just like yours, choosing to ignore the stigma of marching band may just be one of the best decisions you ever make.
