Hey Sarv and Baby Band,
In the fall of 2000, I stepped foot on a marching band field for the first time in my life with an instrument I had never heard of prior to signing up for band. As a brand new member of the mellophone section, I had absolutely no idea what I had signed up for. My high school band teacher thought it would be good for me; apparently when you fill out a form for information, check off music as an interest, it generated a form with information sent to my house.
I arrived on campus for band camp a couple of days early and was welcomed with open arms by a group of strangers. I immediately felt like part of a family – a family that was almost as big as my high school. Over the next four years I knew that it didn’t matter what happend – friends, bandmates, instructors, and Sarv – would ALWAYS have my back.
I don’t know that I would have made it through college, and the following years, without the friends I made in band. One of the greatest parts of my college career was when we slept on the gym floor of my old high school in CT. I felt proud to have my band family in my hometown, and standing with eyes with pride is something I’ve taken with me. Bringing people who I loved and loved me back to a place I despised was the best f*** you I could have ever asked for.
Nothing is perfect and normal fluctuates. When 9/11 happened my sophomore year, we were all terrified. Although wildly different from the current pandemic and political climate, the degree of uncertainty and fear was as palpable then as it is now.
At almost 40, I take the lessons I learned from that time and the support we all gave each other and still use it to guide me. The best advice I can give is to lean on each other. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to listen to each other and converse with an open mind and heart. My time in Delaware, and especially my time in band, taught me how to do those things. Treasure your time with each other; it’s fleeting at best.
I don’t know how I managed to ever march in step, read drill charts, or do so many of things I did. I just know that as hard, scary, or infuriating band can be, the moment it clicks and you make it to the field, being in that moment is exhilarating. More than anything, band provided a home. I considered quitting during my junior and senior year – life was too hard. I stuck it out and am forever grateful that I did. Many words may sound hollow or contrived, but, from the bottom of my heart, UDMB is absolutely worth every single moment.
SARV BLOG 