Writer and Photographer / Keeley Miller
From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seniors Neal Patel and Joshua Graham are at HSE High School. Whether they are in class, the band room or studying for an AP test, they work hard every day balancing a heavy schedule.
Graham, HSE’s Royal Command and Guard Drum Major, has been involved in band since sixth grade. With a GPA of 4.5, he also balances leadership in the marching band with multiple AP and ACP courses.
“You learn how to time manage a lot when it comes to band, and that was something I sucked at and am still not great at, but I am working on it,” said Graham. “[Marching band] is really stressful, and you get tired really easily, but once you get to a competition, everything finally comes together. You have this beautiful masterpiece at the end.”
Patel has been playing the clarinet since fourth grade. What once began as a required class became a passion through marching band. Patel also holds a 4.7 GPA and strives to go to Stanford to study medicine.
“The best part about being on marching band is the friends,” said Patel. “You’re competing with the people that you spend 30 hours a week with working on something.”
For more information on the Royal Command and Guard, visit hsehsbands.com.
