Collaboration is the Key to Success in Nearly Every Situation

2020 was a rough year for the entire world, but aside from all of the much more major issues, a global pandemic meant that there was an entire year without marching band for many high schools and colleges across the world. As the world began to return back to normal, music educators and colligate marching bands faced the challenge of performing with bands where over half the members had not marched before. That’s where the Bear Marching Band Trumpet section found themselves as the 2021 season started. Over a third of the way into the season, we were still struggling to grasp concepts that were normally ingrained by the end of week one. I had taken a passive role in the section because I was forced to step down from my position as section leader to get a job and pay for school, and the other upperclassmen just left the two new section leaders to their own devices. We were always being scolded, no one really talked to each other, no one really cared, and most importantly, no one was having fun, but after a mediocre performance all of the upperclassmen decided, “What if we all helped the section get better?” That day, we came together and put aside our differences and biases to focus on our strengths and make our section better. For the next few weeks we would get runner-up for the spirit stick, but the week of our second game, we finally did it! Where you might see a bunch of college kids excited over a painted chunk of wood, I see a reminder of what can be achieved when we collaborate. Lessons like this one are what I bring to any team I join along with an open mind and a can-do attitude.