over the past 3 ish weeks i've had time to reflect on my journey throughout college. my first semester at Penn State was fall 2020 and that in and of itself was hard enough. navigating a major transition throughout life without my friends, my family, or even having the option to make friends. i didn't make it into the Blue Band when i first auditioned, and i decided that the next year i would try again. that was the best decision i've made in my life so far.
college is hard, it's school, and when you have a mental health condition it exhausts your resources. i'm happy to be graduating, but i'm going to miss the friends and activities from being in a sorority, and most of all i'll miss being in the Penn State Blue Band.
the Blue Band has given me everything, the opportunity to travel, make friends, and do what i love with the people i love. it's also really cool that my friends are some of the most talented musicians in the world. i got to be part of the best marching band in the world, i'm definitely biased, but we are really freakin cool. i'm not someone who always knew they wanted to be in the Blue Band, or go to Penn State, but i fell in love with the Blue Band November 2019. i cried watching them perform, and some of them ended up being my friends. there were hard times for sure, challenges, fighting for a spot to march, travel logistics, and bus 6 (if you know, you know). but i also got to march in Raymond James Stadium, the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Rose Bowl Stadium, and Mercedes Benz Stadium. i went to california and alabama both which i hadn't been to before. and i found myself in the Blue Band. the Blue Band is the first love of my life, and everyone knows at some point it ends, but it sneaks up on you. until one day you're singing the alma mater being introduced to the rest of the band as alums.
i'll say it again, i am beyond excited to graduate. but if i could march R8 every day, i would be honored.
happy new year, and good luck to everyone starting their next semester
xo ally
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