“When I was an eighth grader at Jarrett, we came to Parkview to visit. I was in band at Jarrett, but I wasn’t going to keep playing clarinet when I got to high school.
But when I was there, I saw a drum major who was also a football player at Parkview. I saw him conducting the band in his jersey, and I thought, 'I can do that.'
Since freshman year, my goal was to become a drum major. Last year, I tried out, and I made it. I have major pride in the band. It’s a ton of work, but being a leader of the band is important to me. But I’m a leader of our band, and I’m the captain of the football team.
I play wide receiver, defensive back and I’m on special teams, so I’m pretty much continuously on the field. When it’s halftime, I’ll drink some water and run up on the platform. There, I switch off my football mode and I switch on my band mode. It becomes instinct, conducting. I know when to gesture, when to hold a note. It’s just a part of me. I know the music, I know the band, and I know the play.
It’s a ton of work being in band and the football team, being Assemblies Commissioner on Cabinet, leading with Brother 2 Brother. But doing a lot of work now will prepare me for my future. I’m a first generation American, and my mom reminds me that we came to this country to work hard. That’s what I’m going to do.
I’ve been accepted to Missouri State University. I’m considering playing football in college. I know I’ll major in pre-dentistry, and all the work I’m doing now is going to prepare me for the work I’ll do later. It doesn’t stop. I don’t stop. I keep going, because the work is important. I’ve got work still to do."
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
