I'm going to tackle marching band first. I really don't have time for it and even if I did, I just need to make sure that I have an extra successful semester academic wise. There have been countless headaches that I have received after numerous band rehearsals during my days of participation. There were so many frustrating moments when I just focused on band instead of the real reason why I'm at KU...for my education.

On the flip side, I will definitely miss the entire atmosphere of band. It's a wonderful activity to get into. I met so many friends these past two years and I was always excited when people I knew from my old high school band decided to participate too. Plus, I met Madeleine last year in marching band. She had been in the same position as me after this past season - should she do band again another year or not? But she finally decided to get back into it. But I'll say it over and over again...I put in my two years of it in there and I had a great time doing it, but I think that I pretty much got all I can get out of it.

This is where the school part comes in. There are so many other activities that I can get into now. I'm also going to try to see if Robinson pool needs a lifeguard so that I might have another job to look forward to that won't be as stressful as a 20 hour band week. Plus I will definitely have time to exercise more. I also have more confidence that I can possibly pull straight A's this semester without band. Band teaches you how to manage my time yes, but I truly think that I have already learned this principle. I'm going to go out there and learn a lot of stuff, have a great time doing other activities, and walk away with some great grades. Thats my real goal this semester, and I think I can do it.

Of course I'll miss all the great parts about band, but I know how to move on from things. Moving on from swimming was by far the hardest thing for me to give up, but I did it. I dedicated more than 10 years to swimming and I could have gone to college and been a swimmer, but like I'm saying with band now...it takes up too much time and would eventually feel like a hinderance on my academic ability.

Who knows, maybe I might be making the wrong decision not continuing with band. But leaving it behind is what I'm going to do this year. Life is full of choices and hopefully I'm making the right one.

At least I'll have free weekends without crappy Saturdays of shitty Kansas football. That's definitely a plus ;)