Band: Creating the Person I am Today. by Hannah

Band: Creating the Person I am Today. by Hannah - December 2013 Scholarship Essay

One moment can change a life. Mine was deciding to join marching band. As an incoming freshmen, I believed band would be a detriment to my social status, I would not have fun, and I would not have a life. I couldn’t be farther from the truth. Through band, I have made lifelong friendships, developed essential leadership skills, and blossomed into a more confident being.

Marching band has given me the opportunity to meet countless people and make lifelong friendships. We all get along because we share one common factor-- music. If it weren’t for band, I would practically have no friends. I have auditioned for many bands including Tennessee Tech Festival, All County, All Mid-State, and Oakland High School’s brass choir along with playing in my own high school’s band. I have been able to make friendships with people from all over Tennessee because of band.

I have also been able to develop leadership skills though band. Everyone needs to learn how to be a leader. Because of band, I have been given the opportunity to be a section leader. A section leader is a person in charge of a certain section of band such as trumpets or flutes. In my section, I had two freshmen. I had to be the best leader possible because I was who these freshmen looked up to. Going into the beginning of the season, I had it in my mind I will have a perfect section, and everyone in my section will be able to get along. I could not be farther from the truth. I had one girl who was very difficult to be around. She was socially awkward, and she frustrated everyone she was around. I, being a leader, decided to befriend her when no one else would. Maybe my actions would promote the other people in my section to do the same. At the end of the season, the members of my section accepted her into our group and would talk to her. I made a difference. Because of band, I was also given the opportunity to sharpen my leadership skills by mentoring younger members of band. I would notice the freshmen in my section having difficulty memorizing the music or struggling to march. I would make sure to work with them one on one to improve their skills. Through mentoring, I learned how to communicate clearly with other people. Because I know how to talk to other people affectively, I have become a better leader.

When I first came into high school, I had no confidence. I was scared, and I knew no one attending Riverdale High School. I joined band thinking I would be able to meet new friends. The first day I did not say a single word. As time progressed, band forced me to come out of my shell. One cannot play an instrument passively because the tone suffers and the player sounds like a dying duck. Also, one cannot march passively because he or she will be crushed by another player. The player’s posture has to radiate self-confidence, or it will not look uniform to the rest of the people on the field. The player has to be confident in his or her abilities and not second guess his or herself. In addition, this year I had a solo. I was the only person playing on the entire field. If I was not confident in myself, I would surely mess up. I had to learn to be confident.

Because of band, I have friends I will always stay in touch with. I am more outgoing; I am more confident, and I talk to others more. If it were not for band, I would not be the person I am today.