Essay On Band Strength

Throughout my lifetime, one of the hardest things for me to do has been to say no. A spectrum of simple tasks such as quitting jobs, to situations as insignificant as denying dinner and a movie have been monumental to me. One of the toughest challenges I have accomplished was building up the courage to quit high school band. After three dedicated, driven years of competition and practice, the setting and the people I was obliged to collaborate with became detrimental to my health, and it took a significant amount of strength to pull myself out of those circumstances.
When I was first elected as section leader in the TWCP Marching Band my junior year, I had a copious amount of hope in the people around me. Even though we did not share the same beliefs and interests, I felt that with my leadership position, I can still help those newer members thrive in band and make their time worthwhile. I was the first chair bassoonist in the top band and had placed well in multiple prestigious competitions, so I was confident in my abilities. This task was a relatively simple one for me. Always understanding of the younger students’ interests, I knew exactly how it felt to be in their position. Band was enjoyable for me, I lived for the competition

and the new friends that I made along the way. Suddenly, however, nearly halfway through the year, my world was turned upside down when my physical health took a turn for the worst, taking my mental health down along the way. Doctors appointments began to prioritize my time, and slowly the group of people who I called my second family became strangers to me.
I did not agree with my peers that any illness is something to be mocked. I quickly became a target of ridicule, teased for missing school, failing classwork, you name it. Even the band directors falsely accused and attacked me for my actions. Desperate to save myself and my dwindling friendships, I was drawn to the worst-case scenario: I needed to extract myself from that toxic environment. After building up courage and persevering through intensive therapy, I knew it was time for me to do what was best for myself. I walked into my band director’s office, hands shaking, but head held high, and announced my departure, horrified about what could happen afterward. It was the first time in my life I told a person “no” without any assistance. To my surprise, there was no bickering, no arguing, just a mutual understanding. The air felt clearer immediately after, and I walked out with a ton of weight off my shoulders.
Every once in a while, collaborating with people with whom I don’t share the same beliefs can aid me in growing and becoming furtherly open-minded.

And every once in a while, situations just don’t work out for the best. This is how I overcame my fear, and how working with these new people morphed me into a stronger human being. I don’t regret my time spent in marching band, nor do I regret having the courage to quit . Just because I saw potential in the people in band at one point, does not mean I am obligated to feel that way them forever. I will not let my fears and inhibitions hold me back from having these adventures again, even after this unfortunate experience. Feelings changed, people changed, and I changed, for the

better.