“Gleeful High School Band Geek”
Written by Michael Fletcher and Jenny Fletcher, South Portland Edited by Nancy Curran, President elect
Every once in a while we hear the kids say something that makes us proud of who they are becoming as a person. The opening statement made by Dan Granholm at the 2011 All-State Jazz Festival sums it up, “Our primary goal is not to create fine musicians but rather to create fine human beings.”
In a health class at South Portland High School, students were discussing stereotypes and how certain groups are perceived. The teacher then asked the class to come up with "cliques" in the school and to cate- gorize how they were labeled.
The students identified one group as students who participate in band activities and labeled them as “band geeks”. They categorized the group as those who display qualities such as "annoying, obsessive, overly ex- cited and nerdy." At the conclusion of the compilation of a list of cliques, the teacher noticed that one student was visibly in disagreement with some of the comments and invited her to respond.
This was Jenny’s reply:
"We're not obsessive, we're passionate about something we love. By labeling us "obsessive", it's like saying it's a bad thing. We may be annoying at times, but who isn't? Everyone can be sometimes. If you find it annoying that we can be overly excited about something and that's how you think of us, why don't you go out and find something you absolutely love to do, then watch how you act when you're talking about that or doing that activity you love. It's not over excitement; it's passion and a love of something that we have in common with many people. Yeah, sure when we go to band festivals we're excited, but who wouldn't be? Being with many people that love what you love? It's awesome! It's like you going to a state swim meet (Jenny is also a swimmer) or any other big sporting event. How excited would you be? Exactly... think about it!"
Another student (not a band geek) stood up and exclaimed: "And THAT, is how you win a debate!!!" After she said: "I felt sooo great after that!
Great job Jenny Fletcher; for standing up for what you believe; for standing up for who you are; and for do- ing it in a very mature, respectful manner.
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