Once Upon a Time there was a marching band made up of high school students who loved music and performing. They worked hard every day to refine their skills and put together the best show they could.
Their quest culminated in an opportunity to compete against bands from other lands. They would ride to the battleground to perform for the Kings and Queens of Bandland.
But at the last minute, the man named BusCo turned into an evil ogre and went back on his promise to help the band on their quest. They tried desperately to find worthy steeds to take them to the battle.
Just when all hope seemed lost, other bands from nearby lands decided to set aside past rivalries. They rode to the rescue and offered their own steeds for the band to use on their quest. The rivals joined together for the good of all.
The band traveled to the battle and competed well. They became the talk of the land with their valiant efforts and earned the respect of all.
And they lived happily ever after.
The Real Story
My niece is a member of her high school band. She found her people, as they say. She plays three instruments (flute, oboe, and alto saxophone). She loves being part of this group and has developed great friendships. She’s even talked about possibly wanting to be a band director as a future career.
In her freshman year, COVID-19 canceled most marching completions. She and her bandmates looked forward to competing again, especially in St. Louis and Indianapolis for regionals and nationals, respectively. They have a fun show, complete with my niece dressed in a shark costume. They put in countless hours of rehearsal time to make their show the best it could be.
After months of preparation, the band packed up for regionals in St. Louis. However, the bus company contracted to take them backed out, saying they didn’t have enough buses and/or drivers. The band scrambled to find another bus company.
Then, just a few weeks later, it happened again. This time, the bus company backed out less than 36 hours before the band was set to leave for Indianapolis for Grand Nationals. There was no time to arrange for eight buses with another charter company on such short notice.
Rivals to the Rescue
The story spread through social media as students, parents, friends, and faculty reached out for help from anyone who might have connections to charter transportation companies. Local news stations got involved and shared the story. They even checked on airline flights. With a day before they were supposed to leave, it looked like the band might not be able to go to Indianapolis.
But then something happened. Other schools in the area, including a school district long considered to be a big rival, offered to lend their own activity buses to the cause. With only a few hours to spare, they had enough busses for the 300+ students, teachers, and chaperones to head to their final competition for the season.
The story of the Mustang High School marching band spread like wildfire throughout not only Oklahoma but also within marching band circles across the country. Other bands and their supporters commented on social media and cheered on the Mustang kids as they took the field.
The scramble to get to Indianapolis paid off. The band made it to the semi-finals of the competition, finishing in the Top 20 overall. They also received the Esprit de Corps award. This award recognizes the band that most exemplified the spirit of the competition – camaraderie, enthusiasm, friendliness, and unity. While they might not have won the competition, these kids get it. They understand and appreciate the hard work it takes to achieve goals. They represent their school with pride and respect their fellow competitors on and off the field.
Setting the Example
In addition to lessons learned about the hard work it takes to reach a goal, the other big lesson for all involved was how schools came together to support each other. In Oklahoma, there is a philosophy known as the Oklahoma Standard. It was an idea created after the 1995 federal building bombing to encourage citizens to create community engagement and encourage kindness. This incident demonstrated that standard in its best form.
I graduated from Yukon High School, one of the schools who donated their bus. Yukon and Mustang have been rivals for a long time. (I was also in band for a few years, but it wasn’t nearly as big of a deal back then.) Even though these schools were rivals in athletics and academic competitions, when one was in need, the rivals stepped up to help. They demonstrated that kindness and empathy matter.
I’m willing to bet that if one of these other schools needs help in the future, Mustang will be first in line to return the favor.
My challenge to you:
Over the upcoming holiday season, look for ways to encourage others. How can you help someone? You never know what a difference simple acts can make in someone’s life.
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