Most people could not stand to spend even a couple minutes outside in the torridity of the Texan sun. However, the students participating in marching band have the dedication to spend endless hours in the scorching heat to create a synchronized performance. It is this commitment and perspiration that bonds the students of marching band like no other.

“Band is not a bunch of losers that get on a football field to perform,” junior Austin Zhang said. “Band is a real performing group that put a ton of time in to prepare something really cool.”

Marching band is a collection of various students who possess the ability to play an instrument and march to create a show. With the combination of drills, music and work, these students put together a performance.

“Marching band takes the beauty of music and combines it with the thrill of performance with a team to die for,” junior Renu Chepuru said.

These performances take a lot of hard work and after school practice. The two hour outdoor rehearsals are described as tiring and extremely time consuming. The students of marching band tend to take extensive courses, making balancing schoolwork and the work associated with marching band incredibly difficult. When asked how they do it, many students simply answered “I don’t.”

“Balancing band and school has been the biggest challenge of my academic career thus far,” senior Miranda O’Neill said. “It takes a lot of self motivation that took me years to acquire.”

But what makes marching band so appealing to many? Why are students so attracted to it despite the extensive workload? The students say that the experience as a whole is rewarding. All their work pays off one way or the other, and they say that feeling is indescribable.

“Winning trophies and ratings aren’t what get you through two hours worth of 100 degree outdoor rehearsals,” Chepuru said. “What gets you through the pain and sacrifice are the people and the experience.”

The benefits of marching band outweigh the difficulties. Marching band also teaches students about responsibility and exemplifies the consequences of procrastination. It shows students their true potential and brings out the best of each and every one of them. But the aspect of marching band that students find the most valuable are the everlasting bonds formed.

“Band is a huge social group where you see the same people for hours and hours a day,” Zhang said. “You get closer because of the sheer amount of time you spend with each other.”

These connections are what help the band students survive the intensity of high school.

“No matter how hard or hopeless it could feel, in the end we are a family” O’Neill said.