November 15, 2007 was a cold but clear Thursday in my hometown of Sykesville MD. It started out like every other day but strong emotions hung in the air of Century High School, at least for the members of the Century Marching Knights. November 15th would be forever remembered as the day we would come home as National Champions under the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA). We were told to report to school by 7am and meet in the band room for an attendance check. It was still dark outside but the band was all there, wide awake, and huddled together in the band room waiting for morning announcements to begin so we could start the biggest day of our marching band careers. We finished out our days per usual and then headed out behind the school for last minute preparations before we set out for Raven’s Stadium in Baltimore.
The whole community lined up for our notorious final run through at the end of our rehearsal. We had our principal, fellow peers, newspaper reporters, family, and even some teachers stayed to watch us and wish us well at nationals. As we loaded the bus everyone was silent, going through the show in their heads, ready to lay it all down on the field that night at 11:27pm. When we arrived at M&T Bank Stadium it was 31 degrees outside and it was only 8:30pm. That left us with a 2 ½ hour warm up block in the freezing cold. We took our time and then made our way to the field. With nothing but the performance on our minds we took the field and threw it down. We nailed everything, and we knew it too. Every toss was caught, each performance element was met, and every bold musical statement was made.
After we finished the crowd went crazy; we’d won them over. As we left the field we couldn’t do anything but smile. It was the best show we had ever given and all our long and difficult practices paid off. With a total score of 96.75, out of 100, we won 1st place by 2 points. At this moment in my life I felt like I had finally found somewhere that I belonged. I fit in here. I couldn’t have been more proud of what I accomplished.
Things weren’t always this clear for me. Back in middle school I didn’t know who I wanted to be. I mean what middle school adolescent does? All I knew was that I needed to find my clique in school. I had always been known as the sports star in my small middle school, but I knew I wasn’t good enough to play in high school. It wasn’t until I met my mathematics teacher in 7th grade, Mr. Oppenheimer, that I would find out just where my high school career and beyond would take me. He gave us a simple assignment; find something in your everyday life where mathematics can be applied to solve a problem and write a 1200 word essay explaining why and how math can/is used.
Now, it’s important to know that my brother had just joined a marching band at his high school, and because I looked up to him so much, anything he did I always wanted to do too. With that being said I decided to apply mathematics to marching band and drill design and formation. This small assignment sparked my passion for competitive colorguard. I wanted to know how it worked, what went into it, techniques, styles, individual limitations, how the different sections worked independently and then came together as a whole. I was hooked and there was no looking back. That 1200 word essay turned into a 6 page paper and my teacher told me that if I didn’t step out of my comfort zone, get involved with the band, and get the experience I was craving, then I would always regret it. So I took his advice.
I see now that getting involved in marching band truly shaped me into the person I am today. I got involved at such a crucial point in my life and if I hadn’t taken that chance when I did I know that I would be a completely different person then I am now. In my psychology class we are learning about the life-span of a human and individual development processes. We’re learning about the different stages of life and how different influences during these life stages can affect the final outcome of a person’s personality, style, and interests. We’ve learned that childhood is a time of learning. Kids are like sponges and whatever they are surrounded with they will soak up and will help shape them into what they would ultimately become.
Studies that were published in the Journal of Adolescent Research by Margaret Stone, a research associate from the University of Arizona, Tucson, stated that an individual’s surroundings for the middle and high school years did help foretell what type of lifestyle a young adult would have. Children don’t just wake up one morning and decide to become something totally different then what they have grown up knowing. Their experiences along the road of adolescents shape them and create their personality. Stone also goes on to describe that social identity or “the sense of one’s place in the social world” really dictates where that adolescent will end up in a few years (Stone 3). One’s social identity controls who you hang out with, the activities you participate in, and the experiences you are exposed to.
In middle school social identity seems like a huge deal, at least it did to me. In my mind I didn’t have the option of not getting involved in something. Even to this day my mom still encourages me to join a club, volunteer, or just step out of my comfort zone and get to know some new people. However, the more I thought about it, the more I remembered people in my middle and high school that didn’t get involved in anything. I remember looking at them and wondering why they never joined anything. There was one kid, Ryan, who was in my homeroom sophomore through senior year of high school. He would come into homeroom each morning and sit in the corner by himself. He never wanted to be bothered with questions or small talk. He just wanted to sit alone. It was something so foreign to me and I never really understood it. He didn’t make great grades, he didn’t want to go to college, and it seemed like he didn’t really want to grow up at all. He never got his driver’s license and he didn’t really participate in the end of senior year “festivities” despite winning free tickets to prom.
After looking at all of the confidence that joining a synergistic sport gave me, I don’t see why everyone wouldn’t want that feeling. Caroline Payne from the University of Florida said that getting involved with sports and activities is important because it teaches the adolescent to “associate with their peers, solve conflict, and communicate effectively with their peers” (Payne 1). Looking back I see that it’s a possibility that Ryan just didn’t know how to communicate effectively, and that’s why he didn’t like to talk to others often. Maybe he just didn’t have the social exposure that I did and he didn’t know how to handle himself in certain contexts.
On the opposite end of the spectrum I had a friend Jenny; she was also in my homeroom. She was brilliant, pretty, and a total over achiever. She was involved in so many student organizations and clubs, she was the goalie for the school’s championship field hockey team, and she was valedictorian of the class of 2009. She had so much going for her and I now see that it was thanks to her social involvement. She was mature way beyond her years and knew how to respond and act in every social situation. I will never forget the day we were sitting in homeroom talking about a teacher that I would soon learn we had different opinions of. I was saying how annoying this teacher was and that some of the things she said and did were awful, and instead of just agreeing and playing it off she said “I’m sorry you feel that way”. The way she handled herself in this situation said so much to me about her character, and I believe that her ability to handle herself as she did was thanks to her social involvement in synergistic organizations.
After looking at the drastic differences that sports and social interaction can make in a person’s personality I can’t think of a reason why only half of high school students in America are involved in sports, social or competitive (Grunbaun 96). I now know how important it was for me to find all that I did in marching band. The confidence, self expression, social learning, and friends are irreplaceable and I wouldn’t trade it all for the world. As I get older and possibly have kids one day I will encourage them as my mom did me. I will support them in their social decisions but I will also strongly recommend synergistic involvement. Being a part of something bigger than you says so much about your character and helps shape you for the better. I will never look back on my marching band experiences and regret anything. My advisor once said “Where so ever you go, go with all your heart”. I will always take this advice and I can’t wait to see where it will take me next.
Grunbaum, Jo Ann. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance --- United States, 2003. CDC. 21 May, 2004. 21 April, 2010. Web.
Payne, Caroline. “Importance of Youth Involvement in Sports”. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. 2009. 24 April, 2010. Web.
Stone, Margart R. Barber, Bonnie L. Eccles, Jacquelynne S. “We Knew Them When: Sixth Grade Characteristics That Predict Adolescent High School Social Identities”. The Journal of Early Adolescents. 28. 304(2008). 26. Web.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Final Paper Comments
Overall I think the process for my final paper was a lot easier than I expected. It all started with the topic. I was really set on doing something about marching band, so what's usually the hardest part was super simple.
This is the first paper that I didn't go to the writing center, but I did have peer evaluations and I found them super helpful. During the writing process I usually go to the writing center to make sure that my idea come across clearly to my audience. Since I did have peer evaluations they let me know when something wasn't as clear as I thought it was, so I didn't really see the writing center doing too much more in that respect.
I really enjoyed this paper though and it was nice to be able to go back and watch some old videos of my band and just remember how great that experience was to me and I'm glad I got to share it with the class.
This is the first paper that I didn't go to the writing center, but I did have peer evaluations and I found them super helpful. During the writing process I usually go to the writing center to make sure that my idea come across clearly to my audience. Since I did have peer evaluations they let me know when something wasn't as clear as I thought it was, so I didn't really see the writing center doing too much more in that respect.
I really enjoyed this paper though and it was nice to be able to go back and watch some old videos of my band and just remember how great that experience was to me and I'm glad I got to share it with the class.
Course Reflection
At the beginning of this class I wasn't really sure how well I was going to do. I was worried that I would be in over my head and I would be writing huge papers that took weeks to write, but I would soon discover that it was all manageable. I really liked how the class was set up. I liked that we had 3 papers. We knew from the first day of class what they were, when we would be doing them, and what was expected of us. I felt like I actually had enough time to work on each paper and really get a strong understanding of what I was supposed to be covering and conveying in each topic paper. I liked that we were able to choose our own topics. This was probably the hardest part of each paper for me, but in the end I liked being able to write about something that I enjoyed and was passionate about. I feel like I learned a lot about writing. My first drafts now are more about getting everything out on paper before I start picking it apart. I learned a lot about punctuation and even a little bit about myself as a writer. This class has boosted my confidence as a writer and shown me that I am capable of "A" work. I don't think I have really gotten an A on any paper that I've written but I worked really hard in this class and I'm proud to say that it payed off. I think the writing center has helped me so much and I'm glad that I learned about it in this class. I will continue to use it throughout my JMU career because it really is a great resource.
Now that this class is coming to an end I think I might miss it in a strange way. I really liked being able to just rant in my first draft of a paper and then having people direct me in the right direction. I had a good time in this class and getting up at 8am was totally worth it. Professor Henderson was a great teacher and I feel like she understood that we are all students and have others classes then GWRTC. She understood how our schedules worked and she worked around us sometimes. She gave us enough time to get everything completed and I was totally impressed that she commented on everyone's second drafts so we could have her feedback before we submitted our final drafts. I really appreciate that she worked hard for us and I wish her the best of luck in the future beyond JMU.
I'm glad that I had the opportunity to take this class and it wasn't nearly as bad and painful as I thought it was going to be.
Now that this class is coming to an end I think I might miss it in a strange way. I really liked being able to just rant in my first draft of a paper and then having people direct me in the right direction. I had a good time in this class and getting up at 8am was totally worth it. Professor Henderson was a great teacher and I feel like she understood that we are all students and have others classes then GWRTC. She understood how our schedules worked and she worked around us sometimes. She gave us enough time to get everything completed and I was totally impressed that she commented on everyone's second drafts so we could have her feedback before we submitted our final drafts. I really appreciate that she worked hard for us and I wish her the best of luck in the future beyond JMU.
I'm glad that I had the opportunity to take this class and it wasn't nearly as bad and painful as I thought it was going to be.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Responce to "Take a Good, Hard Look"
I think this article brings up some good points. Yes, JMU does have a reputation for partying. The students know it, faculity, parents, and prospective students are all aware of this reputation. One thing I think that needs more attention though is all of the good JMU does for the community. I think in some cases it outweights the bad. Just this past weekend JMU raised over $144,000 for Relay for Life. That's one of the top Relay for Life events in the nation. We were the ones that went out and picked up after the riot and we are continuing to support those in Fox Hills through fundraisers to fix the damage that was caused by our and others rowdy behavior. Sometimes people just need to look past the fact that yes, there was a riot, but things could be worse. We could just turn our backs on the issue and neglect that it ever happened, but we're not. JMU is taking responsibility for it's actions and we're doing soemthing about it. At the end of the day we are a strong community. There is a lot of good thats going on here and I think that we deserve so much more then just a party school image.
3.2 Reflection
I think my narrative argument is coming along well. I still haven't made any huge changes to it because I'm really waiting on my peer review date. I'm looking forward to that so I can get a lot of feedback and really find out what my audience is looking for in my paper and what they want to get out of it. I am pleased with where it is now though. For this second draft I was able to fix some transitions and work with that a little bit since that was one of the main concerns I got from my group feedback.
Overall I didn't really see a lot that could be done with this paper. With this one, unlike my other papers, I took so much time on the first draft because it was something to special to me and something that I was really passionate about so I wanted it to be perfect. I think I took so much time with it and really tried to be critical the first time around, and now for the second draft a lot of stuff that I normally have to fix isn't there.
Hopefully I'll get some really good info on Monday about how to better my paper and I look forward to coming to class and hearing what everyone has to say! :)
Overall I didn't really see a lot that could be done with this paper. With this one, unlike my other papers, I took so much time on the first draft because it was something to special to me and something that I was really passionate about so I wanted it to be perfect. I think I took so much time with it and really tried to be critical the first time around, and now for the second draft a lot of stuff that I normally have to fix isn't there.
Hopefully I'll get some really good info on Monday about how to better my paper and I look forward to coming to class and hearing what everyone has to say! :)
Monday, April 19, 2010
3.1 Reflection
After recieving feedback I was a little confused on some things about my paper. I got mixed remarks about switching the first and second paragraphs so I wasn't really sure what to do about that. I think for now I'm going to leave them alone and then maybe take another look at them later on in the writing process and make a final decision then.
One thing that really helped me though were my groupmates telling me that my transitions needed a little work. I didn't really even notice so it was good to get that feedback and then better my paper.
I think overall this paper has been a lot easier to write then my last two. I think because it's a topic that I'm so passionate about and talking about it comes easily to me. I also knew I wanted to write at least one of my papers on this topic so the normally hardest part, picking the topic, was the easiest part this time.
I'm hoping with my next draft to get a little bit more feedback about what type of information my audience is looking for. My group said that they wanted me to use my sources a little bit more but I didn't really understand how so I'm hoping to get some more information about how I can better my paper in this aspect.
I'm looking forward to writing the next draft soon though!
One thing that really helped me though were my groupmates telling me that my transitions needed a little work. I didn't really even notice so it was good to get that feedback and then better my paper.
I think overall this paper has been a lot easier to write then my last two. I think because it's a topic that I'm so passionate about and talking about it comes easily to me. I also knew I wanted to write at least one of my papers on this topic so the normally hardest part, picking the topic, was the easiest part this time.
I'm hoping with my next draft to get a little bit more feedback about what type of information my audience is looking for. My group said that they wanted me to use my sources a little bit more but I didn't really understand how so I'm hoping to get some more information about how I can better my paper in this aspect.
I'm looking forward to writing the next draft soon though!
Essay 3.2 Finding a Place in this World
November 15, 2007 was a cold but clear Thursday in my hometown of Sykesville MD. It started out like every other day but strong emotions hung in the air of Century High School, at least for the members of the Century Marching Knights. November 15th would be forever remembered as the day we would become National Champions under the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA). We were told to report to school by 7am and meet in the band room for an attendance check. It was still dark outside but the band was all there, wide awake, and huddled together in the band room waiting for morning announcements to begin so we could start the biggest day of our marching band careers. We finished out our days per usual and then headed out behind the school for last minute preparations before we set out for Raven’s Stadium in Baltimore. The whole community lined up for our notorious final run through at the end of our rehearsal. We had our principal, fellow peers, newspaper reporters, family, and even some teachers stay to watch us and wish us well at nationals. As we loaded the bus everyone was silent, going through the show in their heads ready to lay it all down on the field that night at 11:27pm. When we arrived at M&T Bank Stadium it was 31o outside and it was only 8:30. That left us with a 2 ½ hour warm up block in the freezing cold. We took our time and then made our way to the field. With nothing but the performance on our minds we took the field and threw it down. We nailed everything, and we knew it too. After we finished the crowd went crazy, we’d won them over. As we left the field we couldn’t do anything but smile. It was the best show we had ever given and all our long difficult practices paid off. With a total score of 96.75, out of 100, we won 1st place by 2 points. At this moment in my life I felt like I had finally found somewhere that I belonged. I felt like I fit in here and I couldn’t have been more proud of what I accomplished. I can’t even imagine my life without the friends I’ve made along the way and the achievements I’ve accomplished.
Things weren’t always this clear for me. Back in middle school I didn’t know who I wanted to be. I mean what middle school adolescent does? All I knew was that I needed to find my clique in school. I had always been known as the sports star in my small middle school, but I knew I wasn’t good enough to play in high school. It wasn’t until I met my mathematics teacher in 7th grade, Mr. Oppenheimer, that I would find out just where my high school career and beyond would take me. He gave us a simple assignment; find something in your everyday life where mathematics can be applied to solve a problem and write a 1200 word essay explaining why and how math can/is used. Now it’s important to know that my brother had just joined a marching band at his high school, and anything he did I always wanted to do, because I looked up to him so much. With that being said I decided to apply mathematics to marching band and drill design and formation. This small assignment sparked my passion for competitive colorguard. I wanted to know how it worked, what went into it, techniques, styles, individual limitations, how the different sections worked independently and then came together as a whole. I was hooked and there was no looking back. That 1200 word essay turned into a 6 page paper and my teacher told me that if I didn’t step out of my comfort zone, get involved with the band, and get the experience I was craving, then I would always regret it. So I did what he said.
I see now that getting involved in marching band truly shaped me into the person I am today. I got involved at such a crucial point in my life and if I hadn’t taken that chance when I did I know I would be a completely different person then I am now. In my psychology class we are learning about the life-span of a human, and individual development processes. We’re learning about the different stages of life and how different influences during these life stages can affect the final outcome of a person’s personality, style, and interests. We’ve learned that childhood is a time of learning. Kids are like sponges and whatever they are surrounded with they will soak up and will ultimately become what they are influenced by. Studies that were published in the Journal of Adolescent Research stated that individual surroundings for the middle and high school years did help foretell what type of lifestyle a young adult would have (Stone 3). Children don’t just wake up one morning and decide to become something totally different then what they have grown up around. Their experiences along the road of adolescents shape them and create their personality. Stone also goes on to describe that social identity or “the sense of one’s place in the social world” really dictates where that adolescent will end up in a few years. One’s social identity controls who you hang out with, the activities you participate in, and the experiences you are exposed to.
I was always involved in sports such as basketball and football, which helped spark my interest in sports as a young adult today, but marching band created something for me that I had never experienced before. It taught me so much and showed me that I can do something well. In middle school I was always told that I was good at basketball or I was a good public speaker, but I never really felt like those came easily to me, and that I could accomplish anything in those fields. However, when I joined marching band and I started colorguard practice I soon found out that I was truly good at guard. Marching band was somewhere I belonged. I was confident there and it came easily to me. I was always self conscious, and still am to this day, but in colorguard I didn’t have to be. I could push the limits to what I could do, try new tricks, show off even. That was something I had never been able to do before and it made me have a new found confidence that helped me really turn into the person I am today. I don’t think I would have had the confidence I do now if I had never been exposed to colorguard; and just think I would have never gotten involved in marching band if it weren’t for my 7th grade math teacher.
Music and the arts gave me opportunities I could never even dream of. The art of performance and expression really helped me throughout my high school years. I am usually pretty shy until I really get to know someone, but in colorguard I didn’t have to be. I could walk onto the field and be completely confident in what I was doing. That’s something I thought I would never have. According to Child Trends Databank online, which is a webpage dedicated to exploring adolescents trends, said that kids who participate in some aspect of the performing arts do better in school, avoid getting into serious trouble, and are more disciplined (Participation in School Music or Other Performing Arts, n.pag). I can personally say that marching band has molded me into the individual I am today. My friends along the way have helped me so much and I don’t know where my life would have taken me had I not taken that leap of faith back in middle school. After joining band my grades did seem to improve a bit and I felt like I had more structure in my life. I learned that I needed to stay busy in order to be successful, and that’s still true to this day. Colorguard was such a huge commitment that I had to stay focused and disciplined or I would have lost control of my school work and personal life. However, I did work hard and I did keep up and I think it was those commitments and strict discipline that got me in JMU. My grades were ok, but my extracurricular activities really stood out to the admissions board to ultimately got me accepted into my top choice ‘reach school’.
Participation in School Music or Other Performing Arts. Child Trends DataBank. 2010. Child Trends. Web. 12 April 2010.
Stone, Margart R. Barber, Bonnie L. Eccles, Jacquelynne S. “We Knew Them When: Sixth Grade Characteristics That Predict Adolescent High School Social Identities”. The Journal of Early Adolescents. 28. 304(2008): 26. Web.
Things weren’t always this clear for me. Back in middle school I didn’t know who I wanted to be. I mean what middle school adolescent does? All I knew was that I needed to find my clique in school. I had always been known as the sports star in my small middle school, but I knew I wasn’t good enough to play in high school. It wasn’t until I met my mathematics teacher in 7th grade, Mr. Oppenheimer, that I would find out just where my high school career and beyond would take me. He gave us a simple assignment; find something in your everyday life where mathematics can be applied to solve a problem and write a 1200 word essay explaining why and how math can/is used. Now it’s important to know that my brother had just joined a marching band at his high school, and anything he did I always wanted to do, because I looked up to him so much. With that being said I decided to apply mathematics to marching band and drill design and formation. This small assignment sparked my passion for competitive colorguard. I wanted to know how it worked, what went into it, techniques, styles, individual limitations, how the different sections worked independently and then came together as a whole. I was hooked and there was no looking back. That 1200 word essay turned into a 6 page paper and my teacher told me that if I didn’t step out of my comfort zone, get involved with the band, and get the experience I was craving, then I would always regret it. So I did what he said.
I see now that getting involved in marching band truly shaped me into the person I am today. I got involved at such a crucial point in my life and if I hadn’t taken that chance when I did I know I would be a completely different person then I am now. In my psychology class we are learning about the life-span of a human, and individual development processes. We’re learning about the different stages of life and how different influences during these life stages can affect the final outcome of a person’s personality, style, and interests. We’ve learned that childhood is a time of learning. Kids are like sponges and whatever they are surrounded with they will soak up and will ultimately become what they are influenced by. Studies that were published in the Journal of Adolescent Research stated that individual surroundings for the middle and high school years did help foretell what type of lifestyle a young adult would have (Stone 3). Children don’t just wake up one morning and decide to become something totally different then what they have grown up around. Their experiences along the road of adolescents shape them and create their personality. Stone also goes on to describe that social identity or “the sense of one’s place in the social world” really dictates where that adolescent will end up in a few years. One’s social identity controls who you hang out with, the activities you participate in, and the experiences you are exposed to.
I was always involved in sports such as basketball and football, which helped spark my interest in sports as a young adult today, but marching band created something for me that I had never experienced before. It taught me so much and showed me that I can do something well. In middle school I was always told that I was good at basketball or I was a good public speaker, but I never really felt like those came easily to me, and that I could accomplish anything in those fields. However, when I joined marching band and I started colorguard practice I soon found out that I was truly good at guard. Marching band was somewhere I belonged. I was confident there and it came easily to me. I was always self conscious, and still am to this day, but in colorguard I didn’t have to be. I could push the limits to what I could do, try new tricks, show off even. That was something I had never been able to do before and it made me have a new found confidence that helped me really turn into the person I am today. I don’t think I would have had the confidence I do now if I had never been exposed to colorguard; and just think I would have never gotten involved in marching band if it weren’t for my 7th grade math teacher.
Music and the arts gave me opportunities I could never even dream of. The art of performance and expression really helped me throughout my high school years. I am usually pretty shy until I really get to know someone, but in colorguard I didn’t have to be. I could walk onto the field and be completely confident in what I was doing. That’s something I thought I would never have. According to Child Trends Databank online, which is a webpage dedicated to exploring adolescents trends, said that kids who participate in some aspect of the performing arts do better in school, avoid getting into serious trouble, and are more disciplined (Participation in School Music or Other Performing Arts, n.pag). I can personally say that marching band has molded me into the individual I am today. My friends along the way have helped me so much and I don’t know where my life would have taken me had I not taken that leap of faith back in middle school. After joining band my grades did seem to improve a bit and I felt like I had more structure in my life. I learned that I needed to stay busy in order to be successful, and that’s still true to this day. Colorguard was such a huge commitment that I had to stay focused and disciplined or I would have lost control of my school work and personal life. However, I did work hard and I did keep up and I think it was those commitments and strict discipline that got me in JMU. My grades were ok, but my extracurricular activities really stood out to the admissions board to ultimately got me accepted into my top choice ‘reach school’.
Participation in School Music or Other Performing Arts. Child Trends DataBank. 2010. Child Trends. Web. 12 April 2010.
Stone, Margart R. Barber, Bonnie L. Eccles, Jacquelynne S. “We Knew Them When: Sixth Grade Characteristics That Predict Adolescent High School Social Identities”. The Journal of Early Adolescents. 28. 304(2008): 26. Web.
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