Upward Bound

A Positive Experience At School That Has Changed Me By: Criston Payne The beginning of my freshman year in high school changed my life. I had set many types of goals for myself this year including making friends, helping others and being a part of the most incredible organization, Blue Guards. Blue Guards is apart of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Oxon Hill High School. Blue Guards was not only a drill team, it was a family, a family of girls and boys working together, leading others, having discipline, and respecting each other as a team. Walking into the first day of school knowing I was going to be part of this team made me light up like a light bulb.

I had tried out for the Blue Guards drill team the very first week of school with many other people who wanted to be on the team as much as I did. I worked really hard to be apart of the team. Never in my life have I ever tried that hard to be apart of a wonderful opportunity. It was a weeklong process of drilling, knowledge, leadership, and discipline. This week long tryouts not only showed everyone how hard I worked for a spot on the team but I proved to myself that if I wanted something bad enough I could work my hardest and achieve it.

Becoming apart of The Blue Guards drill team was a huge accomplishment in my high school career because I learned how to be a part of a team and work with other people to achieve a happy and positive environment. While being on the drill team I was able to travel to Daytona Beach, Florida to compete with other schools all over the nation. We competed with the best of the best and came in 3rd place out of 60 other schools.

I definitely grew as a person. Overall I have learned to lead, guide and influence others. Due to this wonderful Blue Guards drill team I have become more of a leader. I also learned that being a leader isn’t about being better than someone its about being able to help others. Also to be a leader you have to be confident in yourself before you can lead anybody else.