As I started my journey, I realized a few things very quickly. I had to come to terms with being lost for the first few weeks. Even with all of the warnings about the labyrinth-like maze that is the levels and halls of JSMS, I was sure I'd be able to find things in plenty of time. Wrong. I was late to my first 3 classes. Eventually I gave up hope and went to the front office, where I asked for directions (how gender inappropriate).
After the first few days of acclimation, I began to settle in. My classes weren't too difficult, and I grew fond of many of my instructors. One, in particular, left quite an impression on me. Mrs. Light was my pre-algebra teacher. At the end of fifth grade, all of the students were required to take a math placement test. I was only a few points off the mark needed to be placed in the highest tier. I had always been pretty solid with numbers, and all subjects for the most part, so when I didn't quite make the cut, my confidence took a hit.
I had decided that I was no longer good at math, and I resigned to do the bare minimum. She, however, would not allow me to do so. Mrs. Light sat me down after school one day, and talked shop with me. She had very kind words about my respectfulness and manners, but when she got to business, she was very stern. My grade cards from elementary school were on her desk, and she talked to me about them. When she had finished telling me about my potential, she handed me a flyer for a math competition that was generally reserved for the kids in the upper class, at the end of the year. It was already filled out, including my parents' signatures. At the time, I was fairly upset. I decided that I just wouldn't show up.
As the year rolled on, I learned to love the tuba. Mr. Brown was (and still is) an incredible inspiration. His enthusiasm was infectious and his methods were efficient. Going to band class was definitely the highlight of my days. Slowly, I became very obsessed with trying to get better and better at the instrument and the music. My parents signed me up for private lessons and I practiced a little bit at home. Mr. Brown told us about Junior Band Clinic auditions, at which kids from all over the city would try out and be selected for a joint concert. The prospect was exciting, but I was incredibly apprehensive. I was not very confident in my ability, at the time. The last time I had auditioned for anything was in the third grade for a Christmas play (I wish I had kept the childhood ability to feel no shame).
Naturally, when the day finally came to audition, I was extremely nervous. I walked into the room, shaking, and sat behind the curtain. A voice told me to play my audition, and my god, did I suck. I stunk up the joint, something awful. Out of, I believe 7 or 8 kids that tried out, 5 were selected. I placed 6th. A fellow JSMS tuba brother got the final slot, but couldn't make it to the actual clinic, so I was called from the alternate list option. I sat dead last.
In first, was a boy named Cameron Buck. He went to the rival middle school in Kingsport, Ross N. Robinson, so I assumed he was a tool. What I didn't know then, was that he would become instant rivals for quite some time. There was another student who I met briefly from the same school, Evan King. He was the top cock in trumpet land, and hung around with Cameron. He would also pop back into my life later on down the line.
Speaking of people I met through band, there are a few characters in my story that I was introduced to during these times. I made friends rapidly and most of them stuck with me through many of the years ahead. They'll enter the story later, but I felt that it was worth mentioning now. I'm not forgetting about you guys, just saving you for more important events in the story.
With my first year winding down at John Sevier, I had made plenty of lasting relationships, acquired many new skills, and pushed myself to be better than mediocre. The math competition was coming up and the soccer season had hit full swing, so there are more tales to wrap up my sixth grade year in the next blog.
Today's note: Always make strides to become better at a skill you are learning. You don't have to master it right away, but practice at least once a day, and you'll notice improvement.
My friend DJ Turner is a fantastic human being. He participates in Drum and Bugle Corps or, more commonly, DCI. He is a cancer survivor who is still going to participate in this activity. Go to his site and check him out. The activity isn't free and he could use a little help. You don't have to donate, but you could at least share his story. That's 100% free.
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