Last week, my article was about my years in high school swimming and to keep in that theme as I get ready to leave for college and as my high school band camp just ended it's only fitting to give my goodbye to band.

Dear band,

Seven years. Two instruments. Six different bands. Three Division One ratings at marching band festival. One state festival. Millions of memories.

Freshman year I had no idea what I was doing. Walking down the hallway with the flute I had since 6th grade and the smell of sunscreen (which later would just become the distinct smell of band camp) wafted down the hall way, I was scared. There were so many people I didn't know, so many things I didn't know how to do. But little did I know that, that's not even the beginning of what band is. I didn’t know that throughout the years the band room will see everything I’ll have to go through from having a crush to being heartbroken, to gossiping with my friends about what happened over the weekend, to celebrating something. I didn't know that the people I would meet and grow close with would end up being my best friends throughout high school and maybe even for life. I didn't know that some days I would spend an hour after school talking with my band director about how messy my life was at that time.

Throughout the years you learn a lot from marching band, to concert band, to jazz band. You learn about music yes, but there are lessons to take away other than just reading music or marching. You learn teamwork because everyone has a role in making the sound of a band. You learn self-discipline from making yourself remember drills to everything you know and have to memorize in music. Being in high school and involved in different things you learn how to manage your time from football games to concerts to practices, along with school and any other clubs or sports.

There may be somethings that I won't necessarily miss, like the really weird tan lines, or the way too hot days of band camp, or the 'one more times' that turned into about 11 more times. But there is something about all the things I won't miss and the countless hours of practice and redoing the same drill 50 times that make getting a division one rating at festival all worth it. There's nothing like marching off the field knowing that was the best performance your band has ever given.

When you hit senior year you're just ready for everything to be over and you can’t wait to not be going to band camp again the next year but nothing can really prepare you for the feeling of walking out of the band room for the last time as a student. The feeling that while it may be ending for you they'll still be there the next week practicing graduation music and they'll be back the next year playing a show that you're not a part of.

It definitely will be weird not playing at any football games in the fall and being able to tailgate and just watch in the student section in college, but a part of me will always be in band and have an appreciation for it and that's something you can’t really take away.

Sincerely,

A band kid that will always be a band kid.