Dear Bandos,
I know things are hard right now. We live in “interesting times” and that’s not a good thing. You are probably stressed about ten million things, from the health of yourself and family members, to whether or not it’s safe to do activities you want to do, and when we’ll ever be able to go back to “normal” – on top of all the regular stressors of college. And let’s be honest- being in the UDMB is a big time commitment, and at least on some level probably adds to your stress. But I promise you that it is worth it.
When I started at UD, my only marching band experience was how to walk in a straight line in front of maybe 200 people. I remember standing in practice thinking, “Hold on, you want me to march double time in a backwards diagonal and then transition into a circle and then do what??” I was overwhelmed and had no idea what I was doing. The drill was so much more complex than anything I had ever done before. But I stuck with it, and practice really does make better- not perfect, but better. With each practice and each year, I got more confident and took more and more pride in every performance. Band practice became a time when I could set aside all my other worries and take part in something that was bigger than myself, that I took pride in, that gave me a sense of accomplishment. And most of all, being in the UDMB gave me a family.
Some of my best friends today I met during freshman year band camp. Others I got closer to in later years of band practice. It doesn’t matter that it’s been ten years since graduation or that most of us now live in different states. We hang out online and in person whenever we can. A group of us still get season tickets every year and go to most home games. We don’t go to see the football team- we go to see the band. To cheer you on, to see all the amazing things you’re doing, and to celebrate what the UDMB is to us – family.
I know things are hard right now. The world is a crazy place, and band might seem like a big commitment that isn’t worth it. But it is. The experiences, friends, and family you make in the UDMB will be things you cherish for years to come. So hang in there, stick with it, and embrace the crazy drill along with the laughs. And I’ll see you at a home game soon.
SARV BLOG 