High School Club Influence

Summer before junior year of high school, I was looking at a lot of standardized tests, essays, a heavier school workload, college applications, and getting a driver's license; my most immediate concern, however, was the soon to begin marching band season. Spring semester of sophomore year I had decided to audition for a leadership position in the band, and I suppose I was the best candidate because I managed to snag Section Leader for my instrument, clarinet. As the final days of July passed by, I anticipated the start of a season where I would be mentoring and teaching my fellow clarinet players the complex art of marching band. A few days before leadership camp I received a letter in the mail from the Head Band Director, Mr. Larry Brown, and immediately I knew things were not going to be what I expected.

In high school surviving is the hardest things to do, when anyone first come there. The best thing to do is finding a clique of people and join them. Finding different cliques are not that hard, but knowing who they are and adapting the environment is one of the hardest thing to do in high school. Finding a wrong clique can lead anyone straight down to a life of hell or worse. Students who entering high school can identify the types of cliques of student are in, and join up with whatever cliques that their find is good for them.

Club Rush recently took place, and the Husky Students were definitely excited for this event. The event took place all week, and it was full of dancing, candy, and chants as each club tried to catch the attention of their fellow husky students to join their club. Club Rush week is an event that takes place every year, where every club on campus comes out to center ice and sets up base. They do whatever it takes to get as many people as they can to join their club, to not only spread the word about their club, but to allow students to expand their horizons and experience different elements of high school. Whether it is the My Little Pony Club or Polynesian club, there is always a club on campus for everyone and anyone! Students passed out delicious

“Why would someone join chorus? Only nerds and weird people are in choir.” Hearing comments like these when I was in middle school almost discouraged me from participating in the arts. I did not want to do anything that would make it more difficult to achieve popularity, for I was obsessed with trying to fit in with my peers. My chorus teacher knew how irrational it was for me to think that and convinced me to try out for chorus. I am forever grateful that she did, for joining chorus allowed me to express myself, connect with others, and create memorable experiences.

Jack was a boy who wanted to fit in with everybody in school. It took him awhile to understand that cliques begin in middle school. Realizing that he got labeled as “nerd” for reading books and having glasses, he decided to change his appearance. Jack stated, “I figured if I wore clothes that were more like everyone else’s I could pass for cool, or at least not be made fun of” (Garrod, 2012, p. 180). Along with the wardrobe change, he also convinced his parents to let him use contact lens’ and went to the dentist to fix his yellow patched teeth. Jack noticed how his peers picked on him during school. Even if he thought someone was his friends he knew if he did something they did not approve of, they would turn their back on him. He did not

Middle school was the point in every middle scholar’s life to find a group where they fit in. These groups were called cliques, a group centered around gossiping about others and even gossiping about one another in the group. In middle school this group became your community. The group you do everything with and told everything to. This group is almost like your other family. Sadly, this community, the people you surround yourself with can lead to negative thinking about others. Your community can easily persuade your actions and thoughts because the people you surround yourself with have such a big influence on your life.

I have been actively participating in the school band for five years. While most of my fellow classmates have dropped out of band, I have stuck with it because, I know band teaches me valuable

Although I've received many musical accolades, the skills and relationships I've formed while being in band are

When I joined marching band in my freshman year of high school, I felt nervous and reluctant about joining because I questioned my abilities. However, I decided to commit myself to it so that I would know if it was something meant for me to pursue in the future. On the first day, I was overwhelmed with the many people who I did not recognize, and I started to feel as if I should never have come. Things began to change for me when I met an upperclassman named Sophie, who was my flute section leader. She was kind to everyone and did not get upset if anyone made a mistake in the music or marching technique, but rather, she gave constructive criticism. Sophie was an amazing leader and musician, and she was, and still is, a role model to me. Without

When I entered High school it was a completely different experience. I used to play sports, why was marching band so demanding of me? An immediate change was present in the level of musicianship needed to be recognized above the others. My band director’s name was Ms. Mello but she was beyond mellow when she was judging our musical capabilities. She was a great friend but would tear kids apart when it came to musicality or standing out of form in marching band. Luckily for me, I was one of the few middle school musicians who practiced somewhat in middle school. I was recognized as a great musician for a freshman in high school. During the concert band season, there were two bands. The advanced group, the wind ensemble, and the beginner group, the concert band. I admit that there was another freshman trumpet player who made the Wind Ensemble when I did not even bother to audition. In the concert group, I would advance far enough that the director trusted me to be the principal trumpet player, above the older musicians in my section. When sophomore year came around, I earned first part for marching band and I made my Wind

I have also been a member of band and a part of the college ambassadors. I have done band for four years and my freshman year I was a part of the all-county band. All-county band is an audition from all of the best band members from every school in the county and there are limited spots with certain instruments to come together into a mass band and perform together. All county band members are known to being the best band players in the county yet alone at your school. As a college ambassador, it is a group of about ten people who come together and discuss college choices, standardized test, studies, majors and life during college. This group has helped me make college decisions, made me a better person overall, has taught me many different options and routes through college, such as introducing me to internships during college. All throughout school ever since elementary school I have been on A/B honor roll and I still am to this day. My junior year I was inducted into the National Honors Society and the National Technical Honors Society, so grades are very important to me because I understand sports do not last forever but education and knowledge

My senior year of high school, my high brass director left on an extremely short notice, leaving our band one director short for the whole marching season. I cannot begin to describe the trials that we encountered as a band, specifically the high brass family. Not having our “band dad” with us took an excruciating toll that set the high brass back and ultimately the whole band. As a senior, it was my job to step up and facilitate my section since we did not have anyone else to guide us. I did my absolute best to accommodate the younger members with ideal practices to improve their marching skills and playing techniques. During this challenging time, I attempted to take on the persona of a band director to motivate my section to work hard every

Ever since I stepped foot in my high school band program, I aspired to exceed my band director’s expectations and be able to perform to the best of my ability as a member of such a successful program. My band director has always been, and remains to this day, an exceptional

In the middle of the band season kids end up seeing each other at band everyday except Sunday, so naturally the band gets very close and forms a “band family”. For most of the kids band becomes a place where you don’t have to worry about all the stressful parts of your life. There will always be someone there to support you, which is why so many kids love band and all the people in it. Personally, band is my safe space. When I go to band I know everything will be okay and I don’t have to worry about anything other than hitting my high A flat. These kids have high grades, love what they’re doing, and stay out of trouble by coming to

Previously in the year, it was typical for me just write what is on my mind at the time and later go back and organize it. This paper is a stupendous presentation of that obsolete format. It was common for me to leap from one paragraph to another without soundly blending my ideas into the narrative. Despite this, however, many outstanding developments appeared in this essay. This was the essay that helped me further develop my ability to write sensory details, which immediately shows itself in the introduction: “Lights blare down from above. To my left, I can see the crowd cheering as the previous band charges off the field, and we prepare our grand entrance” ( 1). I also highlighted the negative aspects of the band, such as leadership problems: “Aside from inexperienced and uncaring managers, some people are just wholly opposed to taking orders from their peers. This causes an avalanche of tension between them and their section. Arguments will typically break out as to who is right and who is wrong-- especially during marching season ( 3).” Each paragraph, despite flowing strangely, outlined a specific aspect of the band in increasingly detailed methods. One section describes the methods band members use to communicate with one another while another tells of its hierarchy. Overall, this paper, despite its shortcomings, laid the base for which I would later improve upon in following essays.