College

I'M GOING TO COLLEGE!!!

Today I got an acceptance letter from the University of New England. Maine here I come!!

Amazing

The Macy's Parade was amazing. The experience of a life time. There are no words to describe it, but AMAZING!

What you get is what you give

Well day one is over I can't believe it. After a 6am wake up call, a 6-hour rehearsal, uniform fitting, and dinner, the last thing I wanted to do was sit through a 2-hour leadership seminar. I had been to many leadership seminars before and they all said the same thing. So naturally, I assumed that this would just another boring lecture. The last word on earth to describe this lecture would be boring. Mr. Lang was the most thought provoking, energetic, and honest person I have ever had the honor to meet. He started his talk off by saying that he did not have to hear us play or see us march to know how we are going to perform on Thursday. He sat in front of the room for 24 minutes and no one said anything to him. He watched us disrespect and talk over one of the staff members for ten minutes. He knew we were not giving them anything so how should we expect to get anything. Kids not knowing the music, not knowing the steps, not giving anything into it. So how could we expect to get anything out of it? As Mr. Lang continued he said that there are three things we teach in band that aren't taught anywhere else. The first is that in order to get you got to give. Many times in life we get something for giving nothing. Yet, it is the band students who understand that you have to give to get. Well once a student is in band, they decided they want to be in marching band. Well that takes more time, but once you are in marching band then you have to try out for jazz band, but that takes more time too. Then you have to be in All State, but to be in All State you have to be in All District. It is a never-ending cycle that is the life of every band student. The second is this. Win = Win. In order for me to win, we all have to win. If the color guard messes up, the band's score goes down. If the drum line messes up the whole band's score goes down. It doesn't matter how well I know the moves and music the rest of the Tenor Sax section doesn't know them. If other areas of life my winning depends on someone else losing. In order to be a class officer some else had to lose. The third thing is this. Band members don't quit until it's perfect. On Monday we will practice something over and over and over and over and over again. Just to go back on Tuesday and play that same section over and over and over and over again. And when the Band director says, "Ok band one more time" we all know it is a lie. (A note of warning to all the band directors, Mr. Lang told us to throw something at our directors next time they said, "One last time".) But, we will practice moves, music, whatever until it is perfect. And only once it is perfect will we move on to the next section. Teachers say that the band kids are the best kids, but we are the best because we think differently. Through the three things, and the fact that we can be told to do something and we will do it, we become the best. No other thing does that. Sports don't do it; they only do it for those who don't get cut. Anyone who wants to be in band can be. And that is why we are the best. The more you give the more you get. In order for me to win, we all have to win. Never quit unless it is perfect.

Macy's Parade Day 1

So After a very nice three hour drive to New Jersey, Lunch/Dinner with my Aunt Mary ad Uncle Joe, my Dad and I arrived at the Crowne Plaza here in Englewood, NJ. I checked in went up to my room and met my roommate Lauren. She is really cool. A trombone player from Ohio. Shortly after we met we headed down to one of the ballrooms, for uniform fitting. We waited in line for like an hour and a half, my uniform along with many others did not fit right. So bright and early tomorrow morning I have to go get a new one. While waiting in line we talked to some kids from Philly, and a kid from Kentucky. It was pretty cool, we all exchanged band stories as we waited. The high light of the evening was getting the funky hat. I think it is called a Shako. It is so cool. But, we don't get to keep them. After that I headed back to my room, my roommate was still trying stuff on. When I got back I decided to go through my goodie bag. It was filled with all sorts of cool stuff. Stickers, patches, pins, pens, pencils, etc. from all the states. But, once again RI gets shafted. So my roommate and I continue to get to know each other. In a little bit we have room check and then it's lights out, because starting tomorrow we have a lot of work ahead of us. I'll try to post stuff everyday. If I can find a cable for my camera I will post some pictures here too!

The gift

A wise teacher once told me that if we did not dream big, nothing big would ever happen. Sine then I've always - and will always - dream big. At times it has proven incredibly beneficial, and at others not so much. When the Bishop challeneged myself and three others to help the poor with $250, I instantaniously began to dream big. I thought to myself, "How can I save the world with $250?" After much prayer, doing some research, and thinking big I have come to realize what I need to do with the money. After hearing this many of you may think I am absolutely insane, and you will not be the to tell me that I'm nuts. Before I can explain my plan I'd like to give you a little background. Throughout my time at Mount, myself and the other students at Mount St. Charles Academy (a Jr/Sr High School run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart) have been raising funds every year for our lenten mission drive. These funds have benefited Kabwe, Africa. This city - population of around 300,000 - has been named the toxic city. In Kabwe, we have been working to build a school for the street children. Besides the construction of the actual building we have also helped to purchase unifrom so the children have something to wear. We have purchased desks and through other drives, have given them the tools needed to learn. We have also given the schools enough supplies to feed around 40 children - the children we have adopted - at least one meal a day. Without this insurance some of these children would only have one meal a week. Through working with my school chaplian and some of the bothers in Kabwe I plan on helping that community.