In the Panther Regiment, we have a saying: “Leave it better than you found it.” When I started marching, I knew that it meant to pick up a messy band room after practice, but through the years, I began to realize that it truly meant to leave the entire program better than you found it. Going into the role of junior drum major, I fully embraced the idea of creating this positive change. I decided to be an empathetic and personable leader who anyone could come to in any situation. I went to practices early and approached each new member to have a personal conversation. I learned the names of all 99 members and memorized random facts about them such as ‘Zach’s favorite tree is an oak’. These personal bonds became something to rely on, and they caused me to realize the unquestionable impact I had made. After rehearsal, a new member, Josie, came up to me to ask the question: “How can I be the next drum major?” We’d only interacted through shared smiles during practice, occasional rounds of rock, paper, scissors between sets, passing conversation, and encouraging words. That night, I realized how impactful those small interactions were. This simple question shows that my leadership favorably impacted my bandmates to be future leaders. Ultimately, that is the most important lesson I have learned from my time in the marching band: the weight of words. Spoken aloud or written, the words of a peer carry so much power. In my early band years, the words of the drum major impacted me heavily and inspired me after a long hard practice. Now that I am that senior drum major, I know the importance of what I say and how I carry myself. If I have a smile on my face and exude confidence in beating our crosstown rivals at a competition, the band members are confident and perform amazingly the next day. Even if I don't feel great about our chances, I know that all the band needs from me is a source of optimism, and I try my hardest to provide that for the band. After the Panther Regiment season abruptly ended, I stood on the podium looking out at crying faces after a long, tear-filled bus ride. As I started to speak, I truly realized what the words “Leave it better than you found it” meant to me: personal growth. This program has developed me from a shy child into a confident leader and individual who speaks with conviction to encourage her peers. I’ve matured exponentially from my first step at band camp to my last step at Scholastic State Finals, and I’ve learned so much about myself from my first time conducting warmups to my last cut-off at Open Class Prelims. I’ve nurtured lifelong friendships and fine-tuned my musical talents, causing me to appreciate that being in this ensemble made me an irreplaceable and integral part of something bigger. The Panther Regiment and Winter Guard have given me so many opportunities to grow and learn, but also an opportunity to watch my peers grow in the same, amazing way. In that final speech, I told every member how proud I was of them and who they’ve become. Even if these students don’t believe in themselves, I know that I will always believe in them.

Camper Brands: Airstream, Dutchmen, Winnebago, Keystone _______ Canyon National Park: Kings, Grand, Bryce, Black Greek Mythology Characters: Hyacinth, Pandora, Atlas, Cyclops Indiana State Symbols: Cardinal, Peony, Firefly, Tulip I chose these categories because they each represent a large part of my life. Firstly, I have camped with my family for nearly ten years. In this time, I've visited many state parks, gone on many walks in campgrounds, and seen many a camper. My family has also upgraded our own camper as we've become more passionate about traveling. I hope to detail my camping journey through this category and the next: national parks. I've hiked through countless trails in national parks, and I've loved every second. I recently visited Bryce Canyon National Park for the first time, and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Traveling through these parks has given me an undying love for nature. Accompanying me through these parks were books, and lots of these books were about Greek myths. I find myself struck by stories like Hyacinth's, and I'm reminded of Atlas every time we discuss the vertebral column in AP Anatomy class. Greek mythology carried me through elementary school in the form of entertainment, but it still inspires and affects my daily life. My daily life, though occasionally spent hiking through the aforementioned national parks, has almost always been spent in Indiana. It is truly my home. Though a "fly-over" state, it has so many people and features that make it special, and I would want to pay homage to my home state in my own Connections Puzzle.