Today was the last day of band camp

Already this year is so different than the past three. Freshman year I came to Vanden specifically because the band was awesome, and hopefully I could convince the band director to let me twirl for them. That didn’t happen.

Sophomore year I was persistent enough to get involved in the field shows at football games but I still couldn’t march and compete with the band. Finally as a junior I had multiple meetings with the band director and color guard instructors as well as my coach and I was able to twirl for band reviews. Never the less the color guard instructors still tried to keep me out of street marching and I probably cried every day after band camp. I ended up marching, which was awesome. But this year I received the letter for band camp with all the information, I showed up on the first day and was accepted. I didn’t have to fight to be there anymore. I don’t think anyone really questioned my being there and I was just part of it all.

It means so much to me that this happened because from 2nd-8th grade I twirled for my school and 9th grade was the first year I hadn’t represented a school. Luckily by my senior year I made it in. I made so many friends in band and color guard over the past three years and I am so lucky to be a part of it.

 I have noticed that majorettes for bands in northern California are rare and color guard dominates this area (go color guard, you guys are legit and I wish I could spin like y’all).  According to our band director the last majorette before me twirled in 1994, which was before I was even born and I wish there was an incoming freshman I could mentor to do baton so baton twirling would continue at Vanden but there isn’t. This year might be the last year Vanden will have a baton twirler for a while, and I am so glad to be part of it all.

Go Vikings!