Day 1 of my journey with the Santa Clara Vanguard…

As I write this, I am at the lowest point in my life. My Depression is the worst it’s ever been. I never thought I had “Anxiety” and to be frank I still have no idea what it is…

I’m unsure what the future of my education will be. I’m unsure of what my Why is, and I’m unsure of who I truly am and what I stand for.

This summer will be the culmination of a little over 2 years. I still remember my first camp and earning my contract, only for the next 2 summers to be cancelled.

The work hasn’t started yet, but I already know this summer will make the biggest impact on my life by far. I am a lost person needing direction. I believe my peers, staff, designers, and this show can help me find my way.

Our show is titled “Finding Nirvana”, Nirvana being (from what I know) the peak of mindfulness. Nirvana is something sought after, truly experienced inner peace.

This is what I have been missing, and this is what I am desperate to find for myself. It may seem selfish, but this summer is for me.

In 2019, I marched Genesis. While we weren’t what you would call “peak drum corps”, we were a group of hungry rookies looking to put ourselves on the map. That summer was to prove to everyone who we were and that Genesis was not to be underestimated.

Once the dust settled from 2020 and “Wait for me” was concluded, I once again had nothing left. That was until I got a text from a peer from 2019 Genesis asking if I wanted to come back. I was hesitant to not step on any toes, but I was welcomed back by the family I had once been a part of, and a family I would be a part of once again.

That summer was amazing, and we played our hearts out. I loved every minute of that journey and still miss to this day. My special thanks to Chris Magonigal, Frank Solis, and Jared Kaufman for your amazing companionship and teaching.

Both of those summers were for external reasons. To prove to the crowd what Genesis could be. This summer will be for me and me only. This show already means so much to me. The build up of more than 2 years.

“Finding Nirvana” is exactly what I’ll be doing this summer.