Marching band?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
#1

Hi. Next year I’m going to be a senior, and prior to this upcoming year, I’ve been an active member in the marching band for three years.

I love being a member of the marching band, but my mom doesn’t. She’s always hated band, but since my grades were almost straight A’s, she had no real reason to pull me out. But last year, I thought it would be a good idea to change how I juggled my time, and my grades took a hit. Though I tried to improve my grades after marching season was over, a vicious cycle of sleeplessness, stress, and depression took over, and they stayed low. Now, my mom has decided that marching band is the cause of all of this and is refusing to let me participate next year.

I think this is an unfair judgement, since there was a lot more going on than just a busy schedule, but she refuses to see that. So I guess my question is, does anyone have any advice for me for talking to her about this, so that maybe she can see eye to eye with me?

#2

If your mom tends to be a fairly reasonable person, I would explain that marching band is an outlet for school stress and that it helps you to budget your time. Alternately, I might suggest a probationary period, where she closely monitors your grades at the beginning of the school year, and has the right to pull you out of band if you’re starting to flounder again.

#3

Agreed on that probationary period. You could also explain how college is heavily dependent on successfully budgeting your time and that marching band would help prepare you for that.

#4

Great ideas! Thanks, guys!

#5

Marching band (and I’m not being biased here because I’m in marching band, but because I’ve actually heard it from outside sources and college admission experts) is by far one of the greatest EC’s one can have on their application, for whatever reason. I guess because it promotes musicianship in a more fun and abstract way than to classical or chamber music ensembles. If you’ve done it for three years, you might as well do it for the fourth, both because you love it and because it could save you in college admissions.

#6

Thanks for the advice! I’ll be sure to mention it!