Uc Prompt #2

"Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?" Upon entering high school as a freshman, I do not think I had any idea what I was getting into when I joined the Nogales Noble Regiment. For some strange reason, I had this view that band was going to be a place where we just sat down in a chair and played an instrument for one class period, not really caring how it sounded; just sort of....there. After all, that was what the band program had been reduced to at my middle school. After four years of being with the Regiment, I can say now that my presumption had been so very, very wrong. Being in the Regiment was a far greater experience than what I had formerly assumed. In the summer, prior to the start of the school year, we were forced in to attend two weeks of strenuous exercise and physical training known as “band camp”, which all band members attended from morning to night. When school started in August, we had practice 4 hours a day for three days a week. It was arduous work, I admit, but I learned to view the individuals I shared this experience with as a second family. The Nogales Noble Regiment helped me to grow both as a musician and as an individual. When I first joined, I was a shy, not very outspoken girl. I had a considerable fear of talking in front of crowds, to the point where I froze and I couldn’t utter a sound. Through band, however, I gradually grew into a stronger, more confident person. Together with the band, we traveled and competed with bands statewide. Although sometimes we didn’t exactly do too good, I am certainly proud of all that I accomplished with my second family. At the end of sophomore year,

through encouragement of my fellow band peers, I became a leader in the Regiment. Being a leader certainly opened doors for me. Speaking in presentations became almost easy to...