Aaliyah Daniel

Aaliyah's Story

When I first involved myself in the band I felt a sense of belonging and curiosity for all the different pathways that music can lead you down. The effects of music is culture defining and worldwide. Music is a form of expression and my outlet from the world. There are no boundaries which welcomes all artists and ideas. Wearing my schools prideful colors which are green and gold has boosted my self esteem. I resemble Woodlawn’s High School band core values and what we pride ourselves in. Every time I enter a game I have an adrenaline rush as we march in the stadium. Once we enter I have an overwhelming feeling of joy and determination as I face against the opposing team’s band. In every song I give my full instrumental participation and vocal cords to every chant. This even leads to my voice becoming hoarse the next day. Although I may not be able to speak the following day, that moment was priceless. To hear the blazing sounds of every instrument and see the faces of students’ and teachers’ admiration is a untradeable experience.

Although I have this resilience and self-motivation, I wasn't always this confident in the past. Throughout elementary and middle school, I was a total outcast and a socially awkward individual. Developing in a judgmental community with my peers’ opinions, I was constantly bullied. Music freed me from the negative thoughts of others and allowed me to be unconditionally myself. When I play music all of my worries and self-consciousness fades away. Although I had a support system, I often found myself isolated from others. By joining the band, I found like-minded individuals and a new passion for music. The biggest lesson I learned from being involved in band is the importance to details and cooperation with others. I learned early that in band you are a team, therefore I had to improve my teamwork skills. Learning this sense of community and cooperation within my section lead me to understand the importance of effectively speaking my ideas. When my band director is teaching me, I have to be willing to accept criticism and learn from my mistakes instead of casting out his input. By learning soft skills now and practicing good habits, I am able to adapt to new setting and individuals quickly. The skills that I have learned have developed me into the optimistic and responsible individual I am today.

My personal progress has been outstanding since I am currently the president of the band. The most important change that I made was my mindset. When I started I was a fragile, shy, little girl. Now I am an outgoing and motivated individual who likes to take on challenges. For example, I started out on clarinet but my love for music encouraged me to learn how to play mellophone and saxophone. By playing these instruments, I learned how to exercise the proper amount of air in order to stay in tune, navigate the arrangement, and notice key signatures. In the marching band you have to be open to try new things and different methods of learning. During marching band season, I had to adjust to harsh workouts and work on my memorization skills. There are many different responsibilities I had to juggle, which made me more equipped to handle stress. Although band is very challenging, the reward is always worth the struggle. Through music I am allowed to explore different genres and meet new individuals who share my same passion. This passion has helped me through obstacles in my life and gives me a reason to continue to strive for the stars. Understanding the phrase “Pride is forever but pain is temporary” has been a guiding tool in my life. Phoenixes have to burn into ashes in order to rise again.