Todd Hespell, 2005 Winner

Diane Meader Schenk Scholarship

Marching Band  Essay

Music is important to me because it is a very big part of my life.  I deal with

music everyday and I have grown to have a great appreciation for music in my four years at Lockport Township High School.  One aspect of music, and high school band in particular, that I thoroughly enjoy is that it just gives me something to look forward to every morning.  Without band, school could have very well turned into a dreaded experience that I have to go through every day.  Because of band, however, I wake up knowing that, no matter what happens, I can look forward to every band that I am in.  Music is also a great way to meet life-long friends.  Many of my best friends are in band, and without band I probably would have never met or gotten to know many of these people.  Also, I just love making music and it has become one of the great joys of my life.

Even though I am graduating this summer, I do not plan to totally forget my high school marching band at all.  I plan to come back in the summer and when I am home from school and help out with the band’s drum line.  I was section leader of the drum line for two years and I have intentions to continue helping the drum line for many years to come.  Also, I currently teach approximately ten drum students.  Many of these students attend junior high schools that feed into Lockport, and I encourage them to join the marching band in high school.  I also have been able to develop good friendships with many underclassmen at Lockport.  I always talk to these people about marching band and attempt to instill interest in them.  Music is extremely important to me and I plan to do everything I can to help the Lockport High School marching band grow in the years to come.