Recently I was asked to write about something that I do in my life that I lose myself in; with no doubt, I chose to write about colorguard. So enjoy the following…….

          Whenever I am performing or doing a routine, I lose track of time. Ever since I joined colorguard, I can perform in front of large audiences and live in the moment. While I am performing, the show goes by so quickly. For example, recently I had a winter guard competition and once we set up our equipment, we immediately begin the show. The show may be three or four minutes, yet it feels like it goes as fast as the flash. The reason I love colorguard is because when there are problems at home, I can go into this space where I play a character and become someone else. I enter a mindset where I can forget about the outside world. I love when we have practices where we do movement because I love to dance and when we do movement, I lose myself in the dancing. Colorguard has changed my life in multiple ways, including the way I see performers or dancers. It could range anywhere from pointing your toes to matching the counts of the music to the movement. During field season, I was able to play the character of a witch in the show, “Salem.” I was able to pretend to be someone else without having to think about the issues going on during school or at home.

            Not only do I love performing in colorguard, but I even enjoy the practices. Even though there are always going to be those bad practices that every team has, most of them have me losing track of time. There are some times, where my team gets a five, minute break so we check our phones to see the time. The time is always less than what we think. We all lose ourselves in the music and show. We have realized that we perform better as a team not because of the actual routine, but the closeness of our small family. We went from strangers to friends, to family and that makes performing even more enjoyable.

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Try-Outs at Schurr High School

Before joining Colorguard or even trying out, I had tried out for drill team. I was heartbroken that I didn’t end up being accepted. About a week later, I got a letter saying that there are Colorguard tryouts. When they came and performed at my middle school, their performance looked amazing, but it also looked hard. I guess the reason I tried out for drill team it was because it looked easy and I thought of it as a way out of PE class. So once I got the letter, one of my friends text me saying that she doesn’t know whether or not to try out. After texting her for so long and deciding whether or not I want to try out, I finally got convinced by my mom to try out. She told me that if I get in, then great and if I don’t make it, then it was not meant to be.
  

 So the day came of tryouts and I went. I walked in and they made the environment family-like. They acted like if I’d know them before and we were already friends. I remember someone saying ” Andy’s Coming!” and Rocxel dropped to the floor. I wanted to laugh so hard.  Once everyone calmed down, we shared something about ourselves, we learn basics, like stretches and drop spins on flag. The next day the coach, Uly, came and taught us a routine that he came up with at the top of his head. It was fun to go through this a new type of experience. I never had to learn a new dance or gone through this kind of practice, so everything that happened there was brand new to me. Once practice was over I practiced as long as I could. Before going to sleep at 10 p.m., I was still practicing. I had never been so dedicated to something like that. Since my current PE teacher knew about this situation and her daughter had been in Colorguard before she let me practice in her classroom after I did the activity we happened to do that day.

The next day, I went to the final day of tryouts and I surprised myself because I wasn’t nervous or scared. I was actually really confident and ready for the audition. Once I got there and went to the band room, everyone was practicing the routine so I just jumped in. Once the coach got there, we were put into groups that had some vets and some rookies. Everyone left the room while one group performed the dance. Everyone waiting nervously for their chance to audition. Once my group got called to perform the routine, we went into the room and waited for the music to start.  Once we did the routine the vets left the room and the coach told the rookies in my group to perform it again because “Sam stole my spotlight.” Sam is one of the captains, so with her experience, she was able to out-perform me. I was so confident in that dance. Before leaving the room, the coach asked us why we wanted to join Colorguard. I said that I had auditioned for drill team but I didn’t make it. I also mentioned that in my opinion, I had a better experience in Colorguard than in drill team. Once the week arrived again, I went to practice to see if I had gotten in. I was so glad to know to know that I had passed the tryouts and was now part of the Schurr High School Colorguard.  

Last day of Preseason

Movie Night!

Cassandra

Last Field Competition 2016

SHS

Cynthia and Kaydi

Rocxel

Sam

First Football Game

Natalie

Jasmine

Colorguard Christmas Party

Night Rally

First Field Competiton

Cynthia and Angie

Colorguard/ Band

First Parade

Pool Party

Meet the 2016 Field Season Colorguard!

Natalie

Cynthia and Kaydi

Night Rally

Cynthia and Angie

Sam

Melissa

Jasmine

Cassandra

Rocxel

Nicole

Brianna

Maura

Cindy

To see our last Field Competiton, Click on the link below

To see our last Parade Competiton, Click on the link below