Heartbeat of the Mavericks by Abigail

Heartbeat of the Mavericks by Abigail - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

The rush of blood through my veins pushes me forward, willing me to complete the task at hand. My hands move swiftly to the beat, as the music in front of me soars. I quickly bring my arms together, ending the enthralling symphony. Turning to salute the fans in the stands, I see the pride on the faces of my fellow students. I have positively impacted my community in many ways, but none more prevalently than in my role as the marching band’s drum major.
Friday night lights are a tradition at Anderson County, much like any other Southern high school. But here at ACHS, its not only about football. Our marching band, “The Sound of the Herd”, has a fanbase of it own. Not all students are star athletes, or student body presidents. However, everyone can find a place in the band. I’ve been a member of the Maverickland Marching Band for four years. Freshman year I entered as a clarinet player, nervous and out of place. Coming to high school was a new experience, but the band helped me fit right in. Throughout my sophomore and junior years, I continued to entertain the fans on Friday nights, climbing the internal leadership ladder as I went. At the end of my junior year, an opportunity presented itself. The two drum major at the time were seniors and would soon be leaving high school behind. The sound, the soul of our school needed a new leader. Was I up to the task?
As drum major I would have to run practices, organize uniforms, and most importantly, lead the band through every performance. I fully believed I had it in me. So I auditioned. I won’t lie to you, it was a nerve-wracking experience, but I survived. And I got the position. Every day, I greet the 100 odd band members with a smile, even at the most grueling of practices, heartbreaking losses, or tenuous circumstances. I lead the band with poise and push myself to my limits to help them succeed. Leading such a large group of people is mentally and physically draining, but I love what I do. Nothing compares to the look of victory on their faces when I beam down from the podium at them after a great performance. A large part of the high school experience is Friday night football. And a large part of Friday night football is the band. And I’d like to think that a large part of our band functions smoothly and harmoniously because of me. Not because I’m some kind of superhero, by any means. Just because I tie all of these wonderful people and ideas together with a couple of cues and a sparkly jacket. I am honored to be the face of the Anderson County High School Marching Band.