If you look closely in the cover photo, it's not at all hard to spot me. Yep, I'm the little girl holding the golden bari sax that is twice her size. I don't think I've ever regretted my decision to join color guard my eight grade year, or switch to play the saxophone my sophomore year. For my entire school career, band was something that was constant. Friends changed, teachers changed, situations changed, but at the end of the day, I knew I could always go to the band room to practice and relieve whatever pent up emotions I had raging inside of me.
High school band meant that I got to be a part of something bigger than myself. I learned about teamwork and how putting together a show and music required everyone to do their part. If one of us went down, the whole show suffered. It taught me about responsibility, because everyone was held accountable for knowing their part and how they fit into the bigger picture. High school band taught me that it isn't about "me, myself, and I", it's about coming together, doing something we all love, and making something incredible out of it.
Many of my greatest high school moments come from band. I went on my first cruise with the band, and my first trip to Washington D.C. There were so many 7 a.m. rehersals and Tuesday night practices that I couldn't even begin to tell you how many hours I spent at the band room and football field combined. All I know is that it felt like I spent more time at the band room than I did at my own house, which is probably true honestly.
I put so much time into the Collinsville Crimson Cadets that the group of band nerds I spent countless hours with became my family. Even though I participate in marching band in college now, it doesn't seem to be the same. I still find myself looking at old pictures and wishing I could go back. You never seem to cherish these sort of things until they're gone, and I wish someone would have told me to take more pictures and don't cry over broken reeds (even though bari sax reeds are really expensive, and it's considered acceptable to cry over broken ones). To not think about the bad times because when you looked back on it in a few years, all you would see would be the great times.
I made lifelong friends, some of who I still speak to on almost everyday. I had the opportunity to be a leader and pass what I knew down to underclassmen. I was influenced greatly by every band director I had. And those times I wondered if it was worth it or if I should even continue with band, I'm glad I kept on going.
So to all of the Collinsville Crimson Cadets and directors I ever worked with, thank you so much for impacting me so greatly and being a family to me. I will never forget my time with you. Honor, Excellence, Sucess!
