Page 68 - 2019 UDMB Senior Will

I went into my freshman year of high school with a plan. I was a soccer player, center mid on a travel team actually. I was going to try out for the soccer team at my high school and hopefully play soccer. While at practice one day, I was on defense and ya know, killing the game (I’m not biased at all), when suddenly my ankle just snapped. I ended up on crutches for 3 months and in a boot for 6 months (got some wicked tan lines from that baby), got some nerve damage, had some cortisone shots, it was a good time. Needless to say, my soccer prospects for freshman year were gone. To cheer me up, my sister took me to her marching band rehearsal where she was part of this thing called “color guard.” I still couldn’t stand at this point so I just sat and watched, and suddenly when I could stand without crutches, I was spinning and in the guard too. I marched my entire freshman year of high school in a clunky big-ass black boot. My edge of heel was PHENOMENAL but man backward marching, that did not happen. And...I ended up loving it. It was a perfect mix of everything I loved: physical activity, music, theatrical performance, and friendship. So I gave up soccer and switched entirely to guard and marching band.
Fast forward to summer before senior year of high school, I ended up being captain of my high school guard and my band director send me to DMA with the drum majors. I honestly had no idea what to expect. While I was in pain for the majority of that week cause man guard HURTS, I had an amazing time and learned so fucking much but one moment has stuck with me. I remember learning a routine to Chandelier (if you asked me to spin it now, I 100% still could, we love reps). This was DMA at West Chester and Todd Marcocci was the guard instructor. And I remember being in the front of the flag block, and he watched me spin it. And once we finished, he came next to me and told everyone he was gonna add something on so they should watch. But he turned to me and said, “Spin it with me and see if you can pick up this new stuff.” And I looked at him wide eyed like wut. So I spun it with him. And afterwards, he walked up to me and said “You should be really proud of that. That was really good.” Then he went about his business. I doubt he remembers me or even remembers that moment, but man I do. DMA and that moment, those are some of the reasons I kept spinning.
Now I’m looking at colleges. And I hear about the University of Delaware and I think to myself, “they’re the Blue Hens? What kind of mascot is that?” But I come for a visit. And its over the summer so the campus is pretty empty...except for a few band members. The tour took us through Trabant, and suddenly I hear cheering and commotion, and I look over and there are band members sitting there together with their instrument, talking and having a good time. And they just keep screaming “come to UD.” And while there was no one else in the building, I felt like they filled the whole room and had so much energy that I just...I thought that being a Blue Hen might not be too bad (can I be any cornier?). Then I visited and saw the band rehearse on a game day and I remember Emily Tarnacki coming over and talking to me and welcoming me to UD and the UD guard. But the show...I just loved it. Phantom was always my favorite musical and to see it come to life and the guard uniforms and the performance and everything it was just.....yeah....everything I wanted. So while I got into UMD and other colleges, I honestly came here because of the band. (the answer was yes I could be cornier)
I remember auditioning for the UD guard. I met Emily Cavanaugh that day and was like WOW I MADE A FRIEND ALREADY, I’M DOING GREAT. And I remember being so intimidated by the captains at the time (Aldany, Angela, Christina, Kat), which seems funny looking back. I remember not being able to do a 45 on the correct plane and freaking out that I wasn’t gonna make it and just being so nervous and ugh (yes you can laugh at me). And then band camp came and I ended up meeting my best friend. I can tell you the exact moment I met her too. The first day of camp when only the guard, percussion, and staff are there, the guard all meets up and walks to dinner together. We got to Amy and sat down to eat and for some reason, this one chick doesn’t get food