One time, at band camp by Thomas

One time, at band camp by Thomas - December 2013 Scholarship Essay

In high school I was in the band. I wasn’t very interested in sports and it I don’t mean to make sports and arts need to be mutually exclusive (the contrary, several of my friends would play in the half-time show in their football uniforms) but it is in band where I learned of teamwork, discipline, and how a hard day’s work pays dividends later.

The friends I made in high school concert band, jazz band, and marching band will last forever. Although I haven’t remained in contact with many of them, I know if I saw any of them now the bonds of friendship and fellowship would still be as strong as ever. It was a really special thing, sharing every Saturday afternoon at the football field, all those rehearsals, and the feeling of winning (or at least being recognized) in state competitions. I remember as we graduated and shared our last band banquet together, well, it was powerful.

And more about all those rehearsals: there were many! And it was in those rehearsals where I learned to work as a team with people. In a jazz sextet everyone has a role- and everyone has their responsibility to contribute and critique. It isn’t really O.K. for me to show-up unprepared for a rehearsal and I expected the same of my bandmates. We held each other accountable.

And more about all those rehearsals: playing an instrument takes so much discipline! Both setting aside the time for whole band rehearsals but also time spent alone preparing. Not just practicing to get better either but practicing to get these parts perfect. An amateur practices something until he gets it right but a professional practices something until he can’t get it wrong. Maybe we weren’t professionals, but I have really taken those words to heart. I don’t want to just kind of do something I want to do something as good I possibly can.

You can believe this has paid off in the real world as I recently helped get my company to renew a contract in a difficult economic climate. I show up every day, always do my homework, and most importantly, I really care. These were the things I learned in band class.