Mission Impossible, the song I was to perform, would be my first taste at what drumline had to offer. Although the most nerve-racking performance of my life, I enjoyed the thrill of it and probably would not have continued into drumline without it. Overall, the risk of making a mockery of myself was worth the benefit of gaining a new passion in life. Neat and orderly, they marched through the sea of students that gazed upon them with wide eyes and slack jaws. Del Valle Middle School Drumline, one of the most selective extracurricular groups, was the best in the district, bringing home many trophies that littered the displays. As they pounded away, the beat forced the air from my lungs and made my heart match their rhythm. Instantly enamored, I set my sights on joining their ranks. Although it would take a year of slaving over concert music and a trial drumline performance, I would eventually become a member of the drumline. My palms were sweaty, barely gripping the rubber handled mallets that weighed heavily on my scrawny arms. Shoulders burning from the additional thirty pounds of weight on my chest, I stood at the front of the line holding bass drum one, awaiting the signal to enter the gym. Trying to remain composed, the other percussionists told immature jokes in an attempt to lighten the mood. This only earned glares …show more content…
I barely avoided tripping over my own feet as I made it to the opposite end of the gym where we lined up. The crowd quieted down and cameras flashed as Mr. Gonzales, the band director, counted us off to start Mission Impossible. Barely hitting the first beat, I shakily tried to count off measures as thousands of eyes stared at me, judging my every motion. Shoulders and back crying out, I slowly began to play louder and consciously avoided looking at anybody, instead focusing on the back wall above the basketball