Sometimes home will be where you least expect it. And sometimes, it will have been your safe place all along. Going into middle school, I didn't expect to end up in band. My parents were high school sweethearts and met in chorus. I've grown up singing and watching musicals and sang every Sunday in church. As I walked through the halls of my middle school, I told my mom that the first teacher I saw, band or chorus, would be the program I chose. And that just happened to be band. Looking back at it, I realize that it was what I like to call one of those cool "God moments", where God knew exactly where I needed to be. I excelled in band my first two years and it became my life and somewhere I could always go when I was having a rough time. My 8th grade year, I met my love. Conducting. My band director knew I was interested in conducting and asked me (as a student, mind you) to conduct a piece for our spring concert as a reward for making All State two years in a row. I was fortunate enough to have been taught by a former Red Coat drum major, and took the stage that spring for the first time. I really see that moment as the beginning of my journey. I was on my way home.

Being up there, I couldn't even describe the happiness I felt in my heart and the peace it gave me. As I started marching band my freshman year of high school, I began watching the drum major and set my sights on eventually becoming the next one. So I started practicing. In the spring of that year, I started drum major "bootcamp" which lead to tryouts at the end of the week. Through that process, I became super close with my high school best friend, and I am so very thankful for that. At the end of the week, we stood together and held hands as the band director at the time announced that I would be drum major for the next season. I would be a sophomore drum major for a band of close to 200 students.

My first year was definitely memorable. I excelled, winning 1st place drum major in almost every competition I went to. When I met drum majors from around the district and the state, they were always shocked at how young I was. Age didn't really make a difference to me. I was up there, doing something I had fallen in love with two years prior. Life became difficult that year, though, with the hunting accident and amputation of my brother's foot. But through it all, when I felt alone or sad or even angry, I had the podium. I had the control over the band and which way they took the music, even when I had no control over what was going on in my life at the time. It honestly kept me sane.

My last two years of high school were the best two years as drum major. We transitioned into a new band, led by a different band director. That man changed my life forever, making me realize that I had the potential to lead. Not only lead, but excel at it. He gave me the freedom to do what I needed to artistically and gain the best results I could. By my senior year, I had won multiple competitions and had the opportunity to lead with my brother by my side as an assistant drum major, something that is very special to me. I graduated and signed up for college marching band, knowing in my heart that one day I'd be able to be up on the podium again.

Well, it seems as if sophomore year is a very special year to me, because I ended up being a drum major for my college marching band. While it is quite different, I am beyond blessed to be able to lead again. Getting back up on the podium this year was like coming home. When I first started, I didn't know where I'd be headed. But looking back, I've received blessing after blessing since I've been a drum major. The ride has been unforgettable, and I can't wait to see where "home" takes me next.