The Valuable Lessons I Learned At My Sister's Band Banquet

I know, I've probably exhausted the idea of writing about marching band and the two indoor programs, but hear me out. I promise this won't have any hate in it. This past weekend I was able to attend my sister's final band banquet and her competition to see her indoor show. While I haven't been an active member for two years, I still learn a lot of lessons. This past weekend was no different - here's my weekend wrap up.

On Friday, there was the annual band banquet. It was my sister's last one and even though most of those kids drive me up a wall, I went for her. It was nice to catch up with old friends, meet my sisters boyfriend a little more formally and just observe the people there. One tradition of the band banquet is that our band director will announce every single member of the band that is there. Sure it's a long process, but it gives each of those kids the recognition that they deserve and don't necessarily get ever. Anyway, when the director got to the senior class, it was kind of sad. It was their last time having the pleasure of walking across the stage to shake our directors hand. When one senior walked across the stage, the director gave him his certificate. After receiving it, he shouted "Thanks Dad!" I was talking to my mom afterward and told her that what this boy said was probably the truest thing anyone said at the banquet that night. Some of those kids come from pretty broken homes and sometimes our band director happens to fill the dad shaped hole that some of those kids have.

Saturday, I had the lovely pleasure of seeing my sister's color guard show. I don't want to give too much away in the off chance a judge reads my article. It's done to the song "The Sound of Silence". It's originally done by Simon and Garfunkel, but the version they're using is one by an artist called Disturbed. Their show takes place after a natural disaster. Most of you know by now that I went to NOLA. This show took me back to that place. It took me back to the reason why it's so important that we serve others.

Both of these lesson were important in my life with where I'm at right now. I hope that through me, you guys got to learn a little too. Maybe some of the people reading this will learn a lesson about who they are. The teachers out there. I hope you know that you play a lot of kids second parents. For some, you might be their only parental role model. No matter what you do, I hope you know it will touch others. My sister's guard instructors had no idea how a little guard show could do to someone. It gave me a reminder of the city I fell in love with and why my team and I were needed down there. Don't forget the value that you have.