Thankful

Post written by Jennifer Allende, Program Director
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Thankful. Being thankful is defined as being pleased or relieved. Today, as I sit here in front of a “lo-fi beats to study and relax to” playlist, writing an article about being thankful, I’m not hitting my usual writer's block. That is one thing I can say I’m thankful for right off the bat, but as I think back to this time last year, I realize that I’m also thankful for the time I got to be part of the winter guard program. Last year, was my last time on the mat without even realizing it and I had the opportunity to write about what the song we were performing to, meant to me. Here is an excerpt from  “I Got You”:
“When I hear this song, the first thing that comes to mind is the starting counts of our show. The (1-2-3-4, 1-2-3…) echo in my mind as I mentally prepare myself, reminding myself to perform and to be as graceful as I can be. As the song progresses, I picture myself on the mat, going through the motions. The checkpoints to hit and the moments of impact to make the most out of. The music fades to a lull and I can now only hear the sound of my beating heart and shaky breaths. The sound of the synchronized rifles is music to my ears and I can feel the joy all around me. I’m practically gleaming at this point and replace my synthetic smile with a genuine, confident one…”  
In years before, when someone would ask me about my experience as a color guard member, the first things that would come to mind were the long hours of practice and anxiety attacks before every performance. Although that was true, looking back now, it’s evident that I overlooked the small things that made my experience one I could never forget. The many friendships I formed, constant encouragement from my fellow team members and instructors, and lasting memories I made.
I can say now that I’m thankful for the time I got to spend being part of a group of people that made my high school career so much more memorable.