Becoming a Leader

For the past four years it would be difficult to look back on my high school career without talking about marching band. Marching band was and partially still is an important part of my life. I worked my way up the leadership up to the highest position in the band, I played in as many honor bands as I could and I took part in the many fundraising opportunities. Marching band made me who I am today and helped me become a better person.

In the beginning of my freshmen year I remember how terrified I was. Media had portrayed high school as an awful place, full of bullies, essays, and gross cafeteria food. However, only the latter two actually existed. Walking into that band room for the first time, I felt anxious about meeting new people. I was afraid of being accepted by others and still struggling to accept myself. I was greeted by a warm smile and a note on my chair that said “Welcome to band! I’m so happy that you are here and I can’t wait to have a great season! -your secret senior.” From that moment, I knew that this was going to be an enjoyable experience. With my freshmen year I gained a sense of confidence and the ability to love who I was that continuously grew.

Becoming the field commander of the marching band was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. After having poor leadership the previous year, I wanted to boost my band up and provide a sense of stability and optimism that was missing for the past several years. I remember the first practice as field commander and how strange it felt. That my only job was to only help out rather than to be taught marching. This was new to me as I had become accustomed to being one with the band rather than above it. But something that I wanted to change was that the field commander was still one with the band and not given special treatment. So I worked to create a relationship with all of the freshmen and strengthen those with upperclassmen.

Being field commander allowed me to further accept myself. I have always struggled with self acceptance whether that be the way I looked, who I liked, or how I acted. This position pushed me out of my comfort zone to where I had to become more outgoing,
more willing to help and understand how my emotions affected those around me. This event of being a leader allowed me to become a better version of myself and without it… I would not be the same person I am today.

Looking back on these great memories I see how vital this position was. Not only to increase self-confidence but to also use life lessons that I learned that will stick with me forever. Like how to talk to new and different people, what it means to be an effective leader and that no one exactly knows what they’re doing.