When I was a high school sophomore I was recruited into the
marching band, as one of only a few new members. We were a very competitive
program at a school of over 3000, yet somehow it was a miracle that year that
we even reached 30 members. I never understood how we couldn’t get more people
to join what I thought was such a wonderful activity, and to this day what I
call one of the most beneficial life changes I ever made. I always thought it
would be great to have someone help us recruit, because we seemed to have some
difficulty being such a small group.
Once I became a Sister of Epsilon Kappa I knew that I wanted to
be able to be that help I had wanted as a high school student. This is why I
didn’t have to think twice about the opportunity to help John C. Fremont High
School’s marching band during their annual club recruitment day. EK showed up
to their band room early to help set up an area on the quad and we got to know
the 7 band members. That’s right, only 7. These kids were passionate and had
photos, trophies, lists of places they tour, and the drive to get as many
people as possible interested in trying marching band. The one they didn’t have
with their small numbers was an easy way to help represent each section. This is where EK came in during
the recruitment rally. We had an example of each section’s instruments and a
few mouth pieces so that anyone who wanted to try an instrument could.
A lot of kids were nervous, but we helped them open up a bit and
try the different instruments out. One example that sticks in my head was a
student who had played drums before but didn’t think he would be good enough to
try band. After I offered him the snare drum to try out, he drew more of a
crowd than I could have hoped to do on my own. And he was really good! I was
happy to see him add his name to the sign-up sheet. It was wonderful seeing
kids break out of their shells, and in doing so they made their friends feel
more comfortable trying the different instruments out too. By the end of the
event there were almost 50 people who signed up for marching band and
colorguard! This was a number nobody expected, and the day was a huge success.
Of course this meant one thing, taking a bunch of silly photos with their
marching band before we packed everything up and helped them get their stuff
back to the band room.
I’d like to think that we helped show that marching band members
may be called band geeks, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t cool kids at the same
time! These kids were an inspiration, and it was not only fun, but so rewarding
to have the opportunity to help them restore their band to a larger size. Service
is one of the main reasons I joined EK, and it was the perfect way to end my
time as an Active Sister. There’s always someone to help, and there’s always a
way to make time once in awhile for some service.
Mlitb,
Philip Caltabiano, Alpha Omicron
