Adeline Lusk
I chose this picture to showcase how the year 2020, specifically the pandemic, has affected my life, particularly my marching band season (I am the person in the middle of the group). A typical season would not include masks and social distancing as well as following safety protocol. However, this virus changed our definition of “normal.” We could no longer attend football games, both home and away, to cheer on our school’s football team. We could no longer travel to other school districts to participate in competitions. Although we managed to put together a “normal” show, our total rehearsal time was cut down dramatically. Despite the obstacles we faced, our band was able to submit videos of our show to the judges as a way to receive constructive criticism and improve on our mistakes. The season consisted of more challenges than anything, but amidst all the craziness going on in the world, our band was able to come together and escape the stress of everyday life through music. Our commitment to the activity and determination to put on a good show was greater than the overwhelming paranoia of catching the virus. Marching band was an outlet that I could let out my stress from online learning by making music on my clarinet. It is critical to find activities we love to escape from the strangeness that is our new “normal.” Music is my outlet. Although the pandemic had the greatest impact on my marching band season, the upcoming election and the BlackLivesMatter movement had an indirect effect. Considering the divisiveness that threatens to tear apart America, marching band was a way to see that normal for America is coming together and celebrating differences in a harmonic way. We thrive through our diversity. As a teen going through the year 2020, I can speak on behalf of most teenagers that we are learning more about what we want the future of America to look like more so than past years. We are the change. My marching band season was able to adapt to the pandemic, which was a drastic change that no one could begin to imagine. America needs to learn to adapt to change as well, as scary as it sounds. Although our new “normal” may be temporary, this time is necessary to determine how the country moves forward. My marching band season was greatly affected by the global issues we’re facing in 2020. As a teenager, I am adapting to change and choosing to cope through my musical outlet.
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