Winterguard State FINALS!

 It's incredible to think they made it the finals! Camille kept saying, "How did we beat the Smurfs? Their routine is amazing!" and I'd have to say, "Because YOU are AMAZING! TRHS is amazing! And that isn't me saying it, it's the judges saying it!"

Their routine this year was absolutely stunning and emotionally moving. We got millions of comments on how much people liked it. The Harmons did an incredible job matching the movements to the lyrics and music- it produced an incredibly powerful affect.

In the end, their performance was not as clean as yesterday. But, they actually scored more points than last night, and ended up in 10th place again. We are crying happy, happy tears! 10th is perfect!

I think Winterguard is incredible and I really hope Camille continues with it. This is some excerpts from an email sent to instructors from the RMCGA Announcer, Ryan Bigley:

 

Seeing the kindness, and sportsmanship, and support these kids have for each other, makes me believe that this generation will be the architects of a brighter future for all of us. They’re the ones bound for college, for degrees in medicine, and psychology, and performing arts. And when a guard student becomes a doctor, or a nurse, or a therapist, or a musician, or anything they set their hearts and minds to, they will bring with them the empathy they have shown to other students of winter guard to the rest of the world.

Showing support for their direct competitors, their rival schools, and still showing such tremendous empathy for the ones that you beat, and the one that beat you. Inclusion is a virtue of this generation. For cheering loud, even if you make a mistake. Encouraging each other to join the crowd for the Cupid Shuffle every week. Telling another group that you love them as they take the floor, just for being there. “We don’t know you, but we love you anyway.”

 

Showing fellow competitors the kind of support, compassion, and inclusion I witnessed this weekend tells me that they are teaching each other that empathy is not something to be feared or to be ridiculed, but rather to be explicitly expressed with reckless abandon. They teach each other that by cheering loud, even when a complex toss is dropped, we are not defined by our mistakes, nor should we dwell on them. They teach each other that even the smallest, least experienced, and probably most nervous group deserves someone shouting “We Love You” from the top of the bleachers. That even though you’re going to finals and I’m not, I’m very proud of you and honored to share the floor with you. And even though we may never speak one-on-one, now or ever again, because you are here sharing this activity that is so important to me, I love you.

The whole team got to go out for the full retreat;

Admittedly, these were LONG days- about 10 hours each day. But they were wonderful days. Absolutely wonderful days!