By: Nora Warner
Photo Credit: Jewel Dickerman
The picture above is from the region band last year. The photo features some of my friends and me, with our guest conductor, Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, from Penn State University. Before this photo, I had spent weeks practicing for numerous festivals, spending hours trying to perfect every detail and worrying about what was to come next. My goal was to make PMEA All-States, something I had dreamed about for a long time. I did succeed in this goal, but looking back on these weeks, the highlights I remember weren’t even related to this, but rather the things I had learned and the time I spent with friends. From music trivia and staying at a haunted hotel to creating meaningful music and friendships, the experience brought so much more than the end result.
Moving into 2026 with many similar aspirations (and some new ones), my resolution isn’t to gain achievements but to live in the moment. I can do this by taking time during experiences to choose what I got out of the experience to celebrate. I’ve been given a lot of opportunities that I don’t take for granted. This year, I want to get as much as I can from them. My resolution is to be present in order to strengthen friendships, learn from experience, and enjoy things in the moment.
