Christi Chesnut, 17, a senior member of the Oxford High School marching band, is writing a daily journal for The Star’s Web site about the band’s trip to New York for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Christi, who plays the saxophone, will enroll in Auburn in the fall, where she will study veterinary medicine.This is her first journal entry.
OXFORD — Ever since the fall when Mr. (Chris) Pennington told us there was a possibility about this trip, we were like, no way! We knew our band would have to be screened, and we didn’t know if we were able to go.
As seniors it’s been fun to have this possibility, but we’ve tried to dismiss it from our thoughts because for so long it seemed kind of like a dream. Even when we found out in the fall, I don’t know that anybody ever believed it then. It was something that seemed so far out of reach for us.
I think even now people aren’t realizing that we are really going. I don’t think until we get on that bus that we’ll realize we are really going to New York.
At school, it is like, ‘Y’all are so lucky to get to go to New York.’ A lot of our teachers are throwing tests at us to get us ready to go. I had two tests today. One of my friends had three test today.
Everybody at school is kind of in a frenzy. We have a meeting at school tonight at 7, and then we have to go to school tomorrow until 11, which is kind of frustrating. I don’t think any of us plan on doing anything (at school) tomorrow.
Oh, jeez, I am dreading that bus ride tomorrow. I think we are all dreading tomorrow.
We’ve been promised that these buses are going to be very nice, and that they are going to be comfortable as possible. But we’ve had experiences with charter buses in the past, and we know what they’re like. Everybody I’ve talked to is dreading it, stocking up on food and drinks and portable CD players and portable DVD players. I can’t believe how many of those portable video games I saw in the band room today.
Most of us have never been to New York. I’ve been to New York before. It’s just an idea in your head until you get there. Everybody has this idea of this magical place; it’s such a huge city. They’ve never seen anything like it.
Personally, I will be more stressed than excited tomorrow. I guess I am stressing over the trip and making sure I have everything that I have to take with me. I’m a section leader in the band, so I have to make sure everyone in my section has what they need. If they don’t have something it’s my fault. I have to make sure they have black shoes and black socks and that their instruments are polished. Yes, I even have to make sure they have their instruments. There are some people you have to really make sure they have their instruments when they get on the bus.
I’m incredibly excited. A trip with your friends is way different than any trip you’ll take with your family. It’s so much fun to have a little bit of freedom, even though we’ve got 60 chaperones going with us. Everyone is in for a treat.
