Colorguard has its ups and downs, but in the end, it’s my home—a place I can go for the comfort of those people around me and where I can forget about what’s going on outside. As of my senior year, I am a final year student and the head captain of the colorguard team. My leadership journey began in my freshman year as a JV captain, followed by a promotion to co-captain by the end of sophomore year. I then became head captain through my junior and senior years. I took on this role with full confidence and responsibility due to the previous leadership and captains. That’s exactly what and who I wanted to be. When they left during my junior year, I was thrown into the chair with no knowledge of how things worked behind the scenes. The old leadership was good people who did their job, but there was no information left behind on how to run the team, especially behind the scenes. The seniors from 2023-2024 were amazing. They kept to themselves, since they were two years older than me. I had to learn by myself. I learned to adapt to my surroundings, such as when we were off schedule, I would find solutions to keep the team productive and on track. Working with people whom I was not fond of, like the previous co-captain from my junior year, because even if I didn’t want to work with her, I chose to keep it professional and noticeable to the team. I made decisions on the spot when needed, such as when coaches would be late or missing from the event, leaving no directions as to what to do. I decided what was going to happen and how we were going to go about it. Lastly, I communicated problems within the group by talking and asking for their opinions as to how to go about the matter, or if some were having problems with one another, I came up with how I could solve it to avoid further conflicts. The most important part is creating a bond with my teammates, putting my own beliefs aside, and working with them even if they or I were wrong, because at the end of rehearsal, we all worked hard to get our current skill level, and we will continue to grow as a team. As I prepare to graduate, I want my team to see me as not just a captain but as a friend. A friend who cherished and respected them for all their hard work, because I see my younger self within them, aspiring to be the person I am today. I couldn’t have continued my passion for colorguard if it weren't for them staying by my side, preparing me to face the world after high school. For all the contributions I put into this team, dealing with faults and mistakes made, it made me responsible and grateful for how I turned out, stronger, passionate, and thankful for those who got me through it. I leave my memory behind for it to be passed on to future members as a captain, but more importantly as a friend who never gave up, who continued to strive, and make them feel worthy of themselves, to not give up and keep trying as I did.