Thinking back to my high school years, I remember countless nights in the Band Stand. I remember meeting some of the greatest people I've ever met. I remember a family I got to choose, not the one I was born into. I remember countless stories that I'll get to keep telling for years to come, more than a few beginning "This one time at band camp." I remember some of the greatest laughs I've ever had, and some of the greatest friends I could've hoped for.

I remember working harder than I ever worked, and getting hopelessly overwhelmed sometimes. I remember being so frustrated by the work that I thought about how mad my family would be if I quit mid season. I remember running off the field after practice, in tears, and wondering why I stuck around. I remember feeling completely hopeless and confused, and wanting so badly to just go home. However, I stuck it out, and I'm a better person because of it. I learned so many valuable life lessons and skills on that field every day, and they are lessons that will stick with me for years to come.

See, when I joined color guard, I had no idea what I was getting in to. I thought it was going to be something stupid simple, and I was expecting something I was going to hate. I only agreed to go to get my friend to stop bugging me about it. And then I got there, and the first day kicked my butt. I went home that night, sore, and still lacking in any color guard-related abilities. I was so out of my league. My friend had sold me on a simple after school activity, not whatever I just got out of. Still, I told her I'd give it a shot, so I kept going.

After like two weeks of failing miserably, I started to semi-understand one of the twelve exercises we were doing, and the satisfaction from beginning to understand was so incredible. It was a rush. So I tried harder, and eventually I was catching tosses, and spinning properly, and having fun! It was such an amazing feeling. So of course, I kept pushing myself further and further. I wanted to keep learning new stuff, and pushing myself to be the best member of the color guard that I could be. Which is how I learned to push myself further than I think I can go, because guard showed me that I am capable of so much more than I think I can do.

Color Guard also taught me that being on time is super important. See, when I first joined, I heard all the seasoned marching band kids repeating "Early is on time, on time is late" in a joking manner, and thought nothing of it. Then one rehearsal, I arrived exactly on time, and I got onto the field to see the rest of the color guard already beginning to warm up. Which is when I promised myself I would always show up early, so I never missed the start of rehearsal again. I still use this philosophy today, and as a result, I am hardly ever late to anything, and employers love me because i'm always there when I'm supposed to be.

Most importantly, color guard taught me the value of being a part of something much bigger than myself. I learned that when you perform on stage, or on the field, or even in your backyard, you gain a sense of joy in knowing that you're doing something, and other people are enjoying it. Other people are seeing what you've worked so hard to perfect, and they are loving it. And even if they aren't, the sheer satisfaction of knowing you did the best you could do is so gratifying. Walking off the field after a good show, I never felt more proud of myself, and every bad show was a hard blow. I saw many friends walk to the bus after a bad show with their head sunk and a heavy heart.

My days with my color guard prepared me for so much more than state finals, and looking back on it now, it seems like what I got out of it is worth so much more than the band fees I had to pay every season to be a part of it. I got lasting friendships, and solid life lessons, cool color guard abilities I never knew I could do, and most importantly, I got a family. And in ten years, I know I'm still going to be able to back to my high school, and walk into that band hall, and feel at home.