Karina Castillo

Period 5, Dodd

CP English 3

5/20/16

Joining Band

Growing up I always struggled with making friends, I was continuously isolated and left

out. Throughout elementary school I was bullied up until I learned how to stick up for myself,

because I didnt have friends that would. It wasnt until about 4th-5th grade when I became

extremely close to a group of friend, some of which I am still friends with to this day. Just when I

began to feel like I was finally fitting in, my life came crashing down again. In March of my 6th

grade year my family packed up and moved from Anaheim to Westminster, and at that period of

time, it was a huge deal to me. The group of friends I had finally surrounded myself with and

invested in were suddenly so far away, out of reach from a young elementary student.

I began to feel extremely isolated and, I found myself faced with the same issues I had in

elementary. Throughout middle school I struggled with feeling as though I didnt fit in with

everyone else, and it was true I did not fit in well. In no other words: I was different than

everyone else it seemed. Kids will be cruel, and they were. I was made fun of for how I dressed,

talked, did my hair and makeup, and anything else you can think of. However, instead of the rude

things being said to my face, they were all spoken in rumors behind my back. I was too smart,

too tall, wore too little makeup, didnt straighten my hair; stupid, idiotic things that a twelve-

year-old shouldnt have to worry about.

One day, at the beginning of my eighth grade year, the morning announcements were

taking place as usual. At this point in my life, I had given up on relationships, my grades began
to slip, I dropped out of clubs, and hung out with a bad crowd. The only remaining constant

person I had throughout this period of time was my good friend Annalia, she was one of the

friends I made in elementary, Annalia was and is very involved in school, she played trombone,

was in color guard and various other clubs. On that fateful Friday, the morning announcements

mentioned something about stopping by the band room after school if you were interested in

playing an instrument. The day went on and I did not really think much of the announcement but

it definitely resonated with me. At the end of the day, my middle school had a spirit assembly

and as Im about to walk through the gates once the assembly is over, the sound of many humans

drumming, blowing, hitting, and buzzing on various instruments hit my ears. Remembering the

morning announcements, I walk into the band room. I remember feeling terrified, I knew no one,

and I knew close to nothing about music except for my experience with boomwhackers, the

recorder, and singing in elementary.

At first, I could see no sign of a teacher until this extremely hyper and ecstatic boy

whom later would be my best trombone buddy, shifted to the right and I saw this little man

named Mr. A. Once Vinson, my son to be trombone buddy finished talking to Mr. A, it was my

turn. My teacher seemed to be extremely excited, I remember thinking something along the lines

of, Wow. This guy really loves what he does. I ended up expressing an interest in trombone

and Mr. A was one hundred percent for me learning to play that instrument. I picked up skills on

the trombone very quickly, soon my teacher had me ditching my english class to go and play

with the advanced band versus what I was in, intermediate band which was for beginners.

By the end of the year, I knew a decent amount of scales and all the notes. I could barely

sight-read, but my skills, for a beginner, were great. At our end of the year ceremony I received

the Eighth Grade Award and Most Improved Musician award, recognition, and medallion. I had

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finally found something that I excelled in, something that filled me with passion and spirit, and

that was all I really needed. Carrying on into high school, I brought with me the skills I attained

in eighth grade, and I used them to their fullest extent. I joined marching band, jazz band, and

steel drum band as well as symphonic band my freshman year, which Im still in. By the end of

freshman year, my skills had been doubled, if not tripled from the fast past of the school year. I

became first chair the second semester of my freshman year, and I became the Low Brass

Captain of the Entertainment Unit. Me, a freshman dominated sophomores, juniors, and seniors;

and it was simultaneously the most difficult and rewarding task I had ever taken on in my life.

Reflecting back on these (almost) 4 years that I have been playing trombone, I realize I

attained not only musical skills, but life skills as well. I learned how to: be confident, entertain,

teach, be a leader and a friend. The experience of being band is more than just playing your

instrument, its growing up with your best friends, its working through blood, sweat and tears

with your family.

Band is my home.