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)