Making All-State Band is the greatest achievement of my life. Playing oboe, among other instruments, is the utmost passion of mine. After many months of individual practice, private lessons, and playing community groups, I made the group in my 7th year attempting to reach this end goal. At this point in time, I needed this boost of confidence because I had recently gotten deferred from the University of Georgia and the trust in myself was at an all time low. However, making All-State proved to be an internal renewal of faith in myself and a declaration to myself that my hard work and dedication had paid off. When we arrived in Athens, I was a little uncomfortable to know that these positive experiences in this town could mean nothing if I did not get accepted to UGA for the regular decision. When we were rehearsing, I sensed I was out of place and did not deserve to be there. Being from Evans, GA, I was not as wealthy as the other oboists in my section. I was still paying off my oboe and my 30 year old English Horn was borrowed from another school. Also, I was not a great technical player, able to play fast passages the first time through. I was more confident in my ability in slow emotional pieces. I was given an English Horn solo in a slow ballad because the principal player did not want it. At first, my anxiousness caused the solo to sound crappy. In this moment, I was dismayed and discouraged because nothing was working for me. I went back to our hotel and cried and practiced until the hotel staff said I had to stop.

At the end of the clinic I did very well on my solo and my confidence was boosted. The next month I got into UGA. This renewed trust in myself prompted me to audition for the Redcoat Band. As the chant says, “there’s nothing finer in the land, than the Georgia Redcoat Marching Band!” I applied the same amount of practice and dedication I did when auditioning for All-State to Redcoats and made the band! I am proud to say I am a UGA student and Redcoat Clarinet!