Discovering Water

If you didn’t know, I have the privilege of serving the Troy Colt Marching Band as the Assistant Drum Major. Ever since I received that whistle, the pioneering journey filled me up with ways to view life in a refreshing manner. This is my testimony of uncovering the water that surrounds us.

The “natural default-setting” (234) and its tendencies is so prevalent in the marching band. As a member, the band experience should only be the best for yourself. Why can’t the rehearsal be moved to another day- I have to study for a test. Why are we doing this again? This is stupid, so I’m not going to try. This is the deceitful trap that I discovered in my journey. By expressing the selfish ideas, you think that the band experience is going to be better for yourself. But is this really the best experience that you can have? The negative atmosphere and culture created by your complaints is going to make it more enjoyable for you?

Because you think “it’s too hot” or “it’s too cold,” let me tell you this: WE KNOW. But stating the obvious is not going to change anything. It is what it is and everyone around you is going through it together. The biggest realization that came to me as a Drum Major was that the band is something so much greater than just yourself at the center. You have the power to inspire and change lives through the band.

I know you think it’s so cliché and you fail to see how. This is how: when we finished our half-time show and were moving back to our spot in the bleachers, I saw a woman in tears. Didn’t know her story, nor was it my right to know. She looked over at me and just smiled. This is the difference that we make. The show that you think is “stupid” or “too extra” brings to those battling cancer, depression, grief a renewed hope. When you are too busy complaining why the reporting time was so early, tearing strangers approach Mr. Nutting to thank the band for the newfound inspiration to win their personal battles.


The point of it all is that there are so many things behind the scenes that you don’t know about. You are a part of something great that you may never get to see. If you understood even a fraction of the difference you could potentially make to brighten someone’s day or to inspire, it would be so easy to change your setting. In anything that you do, move away from the selfish complaints even if you don’t see the point because it could make all the difference.

Video: Troy Colt Marching Band 2017 Show "Regenesis"


Sources: This is Water by David Foster Wallace

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 1, 2017 at 2:19 PM

    Reading your post brought a smile to my heart. As your co-assistant drum major, I can only echo the way you eloquently and passionately delivered your view on what marching band is to you. The way you incorporated stream of consciousness and the piece "This is Water" made the post that much more memorable and profound for me, since I used to think the same thoughts. Amazing post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. EricOctober 1, 2017 at 3:28 PM

    to the

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guerrilla Art: Improving Public Space

Image
A French artist, “JR,” installed a giant cutout of an infant peering over the U.S.-Mexico border wall shortly after President Trump’s announcement to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This instalment is an example of guerrilla art, or art displayed publicly without permits from the government usually for political purposes. JR’s piece captures the true purpose of DACA- fulfilling a child’s curiosity by providing the opportunities for children illegal immigrants to have a better life in the United States. What used to be a dull, prohibiting eyesore was transformed into a powerful, more attractive POI. This specific guerrilla artwork was legally approved to be installed on the Mexican side for a month, but many others are done illegally. Many argue that for this reason, guerrilla art violates the public space and opinion. Although some guerrilla artists take it to the extreme such as naked Donald Trump statues, most others are an appropriat...
Read more

The Great Gatsby; Through the Historical Lens

Image
The Great Gatsby is based on the 1920’s New York City featuring two fictional places in Long Island- West Egg and East Egg. The “Roaring Twenties” was one of the most distinct and progressive eras in U.S. history. The post-WWI economic boom led to a wave of consumerism, soaring stock market, and higher standards of living. With the passage of the 19 th Amendment, women celebrated more freedom and moved away from traditional values through the flapper movement. Of course, all throughout this glamorous decade, the 18 th Amendment prohibited all sales, consumption, and production of alcohol. In The Great Gatsby , the consumerism of the Twenties is characterized by the car. The car emerged in the decade as a symbol of freedom, wealth, and social status. Any person wealthy enough to buy a car did so. Nick admires Gatsby’s “rich cream color, bright with nickel” car which symbolizes Gatsby’s great wealth (64). This wealth of the Twenties, however, does not last. Starting with the...
Read more