Everyone is faced with the decision to lead or to follow, and throughout my freshman year of high school, I subconsciously chose to follow. Besides the obvious fact that I was naïve, I couldn’t fathom the idea of leading an entire trombone section, or even one person. But after a year of being in band, I finally realized that it was my destiny to become a section leader. So I tried out at the end of my sophomore year, and became third chair section leader. This meant that I was at the top of the section, but not the head of the section. My junior year, I mostly patterned after the first chair leader. But when my senior year appeared, I realized that I had to be first chair. I wasn’t ready, I felt like I wouldn’t know how to handle the music that our band director threw at us, or the drama that would come with leading others. But as the summer tapered off and band started, I felt at ease knowing that I would finally get my chance to be looked up to.

As a senior, being first chair section leader has not been an easy position. I’ve had to deal with the good and bad people in my section. And with fifteen other people behind you, there is an abundance of drama. But through all of the drama and the hardship, being a section leader has taught me so much about myself. In the 9th grade, I would have never guessed that I could be so demanding and forthright. I learned that I am strong.  I have learned to stand up for myself and not take everything to heart. I’ve also learned the values of trust, respect, and responsibility. I’ve learned to trust everyone in my section and in return, they’ve learned to trust me. I contribute a helping hand to everyone in my section despite the feelings we may have towards each other. I’ve gotten to see each of them grow and mature, and this has helped me to realize how much I’ve grown.

  Being a trombone section leader has influenced my plan for the future in a drastic way. Throughout my life, leading up to my junior year, I’ve always wanted to become a Veterinarian. I wanted to work with animals because animals couldn’t hurt your feelings, or talk back to you. Ever since I have become a section leader, I’ve changed my career outlook. I now want to become an orthopedic surgeon, for people. This career change may seem normal, after all I am in high school. But I now see that this change has come about because of my leadership role. I now love working with people and I don’t have the constant fear of talking to people and being shot down. I could always say that this change is a result of becoming mature, but I give all credit to my experience of being a trombone section leader.