Senior Year

Time has quickly passed since my sophomore year. My last year of high school has now begun. Flags have been a part of my life for three years now, and the last year I had the opportunity to be the captain. My junior year was a very bad experience because of drama and snobby girls. The band show was terrible, and to make matters worst, we did not have a coach. The day of our first competition, we were learning the third routine. That competition was the most embarrassing experience I have ever went through. Thankfully, my final year is starting to look brighter.

I had many expectations for my senior season since I was named the captain. I am a perfectionist and my goal was to make up for the terrible season the team had last year. The first step was to convince Mr. Harding to bring back Cheryl. The end of my sophomore flag season ended badly for Cheryl, but I still had hope that she would come back to help her returning girls. Thankfully, I was right!

The show this year was James Bond. I believe since everyone liked the show it caused everyone to have a better attitude about marching season. At the beginning of band camp, Cheryl was very harsh to me, but by the end of the first week everything started to come together with our relationship and routine. The biggest problem that the team faced was the lack of unity. The previous season ruined our relationships because of one person and now that the problem had left we regained unity slowly. After band camp was over, we looked like a brand new team. Cheryl’s return was the rebirth for our team.

As we all began to grow closer it had a positive impact on everything. By the end of summer we managed to agree on a uniform and we were almost the whole way through the first routine. Things were looking bright until Mr. Harding messed up the order for our uniforms and left us with nothing to wear for the first football game. Thankfully, the distributor contacted me and we managed to find a replacement. The new uniform was not exactly what we wanted, but it was better than the molded uniforms we had to wear until the new ones came in.

The beginning of the season started out smooth, but as we continued to progress through the year it slowly began to become exhausting and everyone's attitude completely changed for the worst. With everyone’s attitudes continuing to get worse,  we finally came to the stark reality that we had to finish the show. For most of the band this was our last show we would ever display and we all didn’t want to leave on a bad note. Thankfully, our hard dedication payed off because we completed our show before the last band competition. Sadly, we did not receive any awards at our competition, but we were all winners in our hearts. Our final performance was bittersweet as all the seniors walked across the field to receive our highly anticipated senior shirts moments before. I am thankful that God blessed me with many great friends through my 4 years of band. The final step has now been completed.

Competition Prep Work

    Time has quickly past since the first football game. The football team has definitely come to win this season, our record last year was a travesty. As the band continues to improve every week we were nowhere  near being ready to participate in our first competition. October was a month full of band competitions and parades and this crazy schedule was about to be unleashed upon us. The first band competition of the year was Lonesome Pine in Wise, Virginia. Competitions are very fun and stress free for band members but this is not the case for visuals. Instrumentalist are only required to have all their hair up, no makeup on, and there instruments ready to go. Now with flag girls this is not the case. 
     The Lonesome Pine Band festival was one of the largest band competitions Lee High attends. Each band is divided up into a class according to size, so this placed our band in the last competing class. Since we were not scheduled to perform until later in the afternoon,  Mr. Harding scheduled an early morning rehearsal. I was very nervous but excited to compete for the first time as a flag girl. When we all arrived at the school everyone looked as though they had crawled out of bed, which was the case for me. The band had only successfully set the first two songs and as we began to practice,  the second song began to fall apart. The routine was very difficult because of the slow tempo. Counting is essential in order to stay together in a routine and it became very obvious that no one was counting. As Cheryl began to panic,  so did everyone else.  The team only consisted of two returning members so for the others this was a stressful moment. After we all took a break and relaxed for a moment things started to take shape. 
   The morning practice only lasted for two hours and after that was over we were immediately sent to the buses to depart for lunch. The bus ride was very peaceful which was good for relaxation from the stress we had encountered in the morning  practice. As soon as everyone was finished eating we loaded up and departed for Wise- Central High school. Little did I know that the craziness that I had experienced in the morning practice would be incomparable to the stress of getting 15 girls ready in under two hours on a bus full of other band members. 

1st Football Game

The most highly anticipated time of the year had finally arrived, the first football game of the year was drawing nigh. Even though I hated the thoughts of staying after school for band,  I knew it would all be worth it to be able to twirl at the football games. Getting to twirl during football games was very exciting but that was not what I was most concerned about. I am the type of girl that likes to look her best all of the time. Playing an instrument in the band is fun but the uniform is not very appealing. I was at a time in my life when all I wanted was to be seen and spark the attention of a handsome boy. Growing up I never was seen as popular or pretty so becoming a flag girl would hopefully get me the attention I so desperately wanted.

The first game of the year was now at hand as the bell rang to dismiss school. My mother is a school teacher and can not leave to pick me up from school so I had to ride the bus to her school. I could not wait to get off the bus and leave Dryden Elementary to go get ready. My mother, on the other hand, had different plans.  She had a meeting after school that seemed to last an eternity. By the time the meeting was over, it was already four o’clock and our house is fifteen minutes away from Lee High School. Needless to say, I was in a panic mode because it takes me a long time to do my hair and makeup all over again. When we finally got home, I had exactly forty five minutes to get ready so I would not be late. I hurried as fast as I could but I was not going to meet my deadline.

Twenty minutes past my original deadline, I was finally ready to go. When I arrived at school I was so nervous. I was the last one to arrive but I did not care, I was just ready for the football game to start. Shortly after I arrived it was time for pre- game to begin. As all the flag girls made last minute touch ups on hair and makeup it finally hit me, this was my time to shine and that this would mark the start of one of the greatest memories of my high school career. I can not remember if we won the game or not, but I do remember that being the center of attention is not really what it is cracked up to be. The memories made with my friends that night would last a lifetime and that is what matters most. (455)

After School Practice

Starting school is one of my most highly favored times of the year. Between  shopping, school orientation, and the anticipation of seeing long, lost friends how could anyone find a problem with starting back to school? I asked myself this as I anxiously woke up on the first day of school feeling as though I could conquer anything. This all quickly changed as the excitement of school began to fade as we progressed through the day.

As we walked in the door there was a multitude of people standing in line waiting to see where their homeroom would be for the year. When me and my best friend Kaylee finally preserved through the crowd,  we found our homeroom teacher. The moment we walked through the door we were handed our schedules. The excitement grew as Kaylee and I compared schedules. When we were dismissed to our first period, butterflies started to go crazy inside of my stomach as my first day of sophomore year was under way.  The rest of the day flew by and the nerves I experienced previous in the day were completely gone. Finally, it was time for band, the last period of the day!

The band director met with us in the lobby of the school.  He started to discuss what our itinerary would be for after school practice. Band camp was very exciting but it also left me with a lot of disappointments. Every member of the color guard team had formed a “click” by the time band camp was over. Our leadership team was a mess by the time school started. The girls became so difficult to control that no one could handle us. The lack of unity left our group facing many challenges as we dreaded to deal with each other for the rest of the marching season. Not only did our coach want to leave because of the lack of respect, but there was a possibility that we would not be able to march in band competitions because we could never get anything done.

The last week of band camp left me questioning if participating in the band would be worth it. I contemplated my options very heavily before school began and after weighing all options I decided that I would continue my journey as a flag girl. When the band director dismissed us to the practice field, we all met Cheryl at the top of the hill to start polishing old routine. Sweat began to pour off everyone as we repeated each section of the routine countless times. As the clock struck three it was time for volleyball members  and cheerleaders to be dismissed, but for the remaining members it would now be time to start reviewing drill with the band. The band remained on the practice field, reviewing sets until it was time for practice to be over. When four o’clock finally arrived, the band director called us all in for a meeting. This meeting was pointless to me, I was ready to go home! Finally, the meeting was over and we all departed from the hill ready to collapse.  (520)

Band Camp-- Day 1

Time has quickly past as the summer months draw to a close, but before we are ready to set foot in the crowd filled football stadium to display our show, we must prepare it first. Band camp is where the magic of flagging begins. As I rose early on Monday morning the thoughts of preparing our band show excited me. I quickly took a shower and braided my hair so nothing could stand in the way of me learning my routine,not even my wild and frizzy, curly hair. When mother finally arose I tried everything in my power to get her to rush along so we could leave. Mother pulled into the parking lot five minutes late as the straggling band members slowly walked through the band room doors.

    The time I had anxiously been waiting for was right before me as I raced to the student parking lot. When the team was reunited, Cheryl handed us a piece of chalk which quickly became our best friend. In order to start plotting our sets, we had to have our plot charts, which is a grid with our placements on the field. As we began to find where our places were, we would mark them with the chalk.   Finally after two hours of plotting sets it was time to break into sectionals.

Sectionals were the most relaxing time during band camp, but that was not saying much. Cheryl was a stickler for discipline but this taught us to respect her. As we went into our first sectional my excitement had already left as the heat from the blazing sun lowered my energy level greatly. Cheryl began to expound upon what our agenda was for our time in sectionals. As we stood in front of the auditorium Cheryl began to teach us our basic tosses. For the ladies that came to the practices over the summer that did not face them with a challenge, but for the girls that never came this faced them with great difficulty. After we successfully completed our basic tosses it was time for the first day of band camp to end. (355)

                                                                                                                                                              

Finding a Coach

After recovering from the anxiety of tryouts, the team felt as if we were ready to conquer the world. Little did we know that our world would be occupied by numerous  practices. We had practice regardless of the extreme weather conditions.  Some afternoons felt as if we were in the Sahara desert with the scorching sun beaming down, blistering our delicate skin.  While others felt like we were in the Amazon Rain Forest with torrential downpours, sweeping the earth away from under our feet.   Regardless of the amount of practices we had participated in, we knew that before anything could be accomplished, we had to have a coach.  Someone that would teach us the fundamental skills of flagging.  That someone would be my cousin, Cheryl. Cheryl’s dream was to be accepted into the University of Tennessee and to be a member of their amazing, highly talented band. Her dream turned into a nightmare the moment she became diagnosed with a life- threatening disease known as Crohn’s.   After battling many years with this disease, her health finally allowed her to pursue her dream of flagging at a lower level. She was not able to be apart of  UT’s band but she was able to be a part of Lee High’s band.  She  showed us that she had an abundance amount of talent bubbling out of her like an erupting volcano. What’s more amazing is that she was willing to be our coach!  We begged Mr. Harding for an experienced coach that would bring an electric wave of energy to the color guard program.  He knew Lee High’s color guard program was at the lowest it had ever been. Everyone agreed that Cheryl was our only chance to build back our legacy.

    The first time the new team met Cheryl, it did not go as Mr. Harding had expected. Returning band members were willing to accept the challenge; however, the new girls were not. Some of the members had a false image about color guard.  They thought that this would be an easy sport that they could put very little effort into it and still look pretty at the same time.  This extra curricular activity  will make you bleed, sweat, and cry all at the same time, but it becomes worth it when you portray a breathtaking show. Step two is accomplished.

   

  

   

Practice Makes Perfect!

   When one hears the word “flag”, what does your mind envision? Many may envision the red, white, and blue flag that symbolizes America’s freedom.  Others may envision the world renowned, black and white checkered race flag, that symbolizes the start of one of the greatest sports known to man.  When I envision a flag, my mind drifts to the thoughts of the vibrant, array of color flags being twirled and tossed about in the clear, crisp,autumn night sky on the green, dew-covered turf on a Friday night in Jonesville, Virginia. However, before Friday night shows are possible, many steps of preparation are needed for this art to be displayed.

    The first step in guaranteeing a successful band show is selecting the best candidates from the tryouts. However, before the potential candidates are ready for tryouts they must be taught in the art of flagging. I remember back to my freshman year when I could not wait to learn how to twirl a flag. My cousin, Emily, offered to coach me before we started open gym at Lee High. I could not wait to set sail on my journey of learning how to twirl. Every Saturday morning I would walk down the dusty, gravel road that lead to Emily’s house for my lessons. After several lessons with her, I felt as though I was prepared to excel in anything when it came to twirling. Little did I know, that along with preparing a routine, I would be required to successfully catch three daring tosses.

     Going into open gym I felt so confident, but the news about the tosses tore my high confidence level down to ground zero. The only solution was to simply practice every opportunity I had. The tosses were all hard but the “helicopter” was nearly impossible. To successfully catch this daring toss you must start by placing the flag behind you and then throw it up to the heavens above. The main incentive in the beginning is to keep from breaking your nose. However, the flag showed no mercy on dear Miss Rachel. She was trying so hard to catch her toss, when out of nowhere, came a sudden gust of howling wind which caught the flag and dropped it right on the bull’s eye,  her nose. Thankfully she was okay,but the flag did not leave her unscaved.

       After faithfully enduring all of the countless practices, it was finally time to put my new twirling skills in motion. Moments before going in to see the judges I was a nervous wreck! The only hope I had was that the hours of practicing were going to pay off. Thankfully, that was the case in my tryouts because I successfully caught the “helicopter” toss. The answer I needed was finally posted on the dull, grey, metal band room door. I MADE IT! Step one has now been accomplished. (479)