How Do You Lead When Faced with Adversity?

Recently the Chandler High Marching Band performed at a football game where we were the visitors. As is the custom, the band marched on the field before the football game began to get in position to perform for the home team crowd. The booing and cat calls began as soon as the first band member stepped on the field.

"Chandler sucks!" rose above the sneering and foot stomping. The insults drifted across the field to where I sat with other Chandler parents on the visiting side.

Hoping it was just youthful exuberance and misplaced team spirit, I watched the band begin their number. It soon became obvious that all I could do was watch, because I could hear no music as the band appeared to move in mime through their song.

I watched my son, one of two drum majors, as he conducted the band. He stood directly in front of the home team's student body.

The noise was deafening. The jeering, foot stomping and disrespect continued.

Zach later told me that he couldn't hear any of the music. He just kept conducting, hearing the rhythm in his head. He prayed the band would follow his lead and that of the other drum major.

How do you lead when faced with adversity?

How do you lead when those around you say you suck? When they hope you fail? When those watching from the sidelines are cheering on your demise and are showing you no respect?

What do you do?

You stand tall.

You do your job.

You listen to an inner rhythm.

You pray.

You look out and realize others are following you.

And when your opponents take the field and have their turn, what do you do?

You stand at attention,

and applaud their efforts.

And as a parent, what do you do?

(Besides write a letter of complaint and receive an apology back from the administration.)

As a parent, You go home proud.

You realize all the early morning practices and marching in the heat and missed family dinners and too much fast food and sitting on uncomfortable bleachers through an entire football game just to watch the band play for ten minutes

and hours and hours and hours of rehearsal

are worth it.

Because you witnessed a moment when your son became a man

and he helped lead a group of amazing young men and women,

Who on a night on a football field

when faced with adversity,

they chose honor and integrity and respect

and showed what it means to be a member of the Chandler High Wolf Pack Marching Band.

________

This is from my archives, from an event that happened last year. Tonight is the first home game and the beginning of the football season at Chandler High, where my son is again the drum major.