"Words of Wisdom" as stolen off of my Facebook

Today during 4th period I was lucky to have received a very solid story about working, courtesy of Mr. Holder, that perfectly defines my life. Once he started talking to us about it, I knew that I had to write my thoughts about it. He told us a story about how back in I think it was 1990, or at least the early 90's, how there was a trombonist in Symphonic band who was second chair despite his best efforts to dethrone the first chair player. This kid, Art, worked and worked yet no matter what he couldn't move up to that coveted first chair; he ended up being in the shadow of the first chair player throughout that year. Now, his best efforts may not have produced results at that time, but guess what? He's the lead trombonist in the Army band. It just goes to show how although your work habits may not necessarily produce immediate results, they will pay off.

What does this have to do with me, you might be asking? Mr. Holder's story described my life up to this point to a t. I've been in the shadows of a ton of great players, and no matter what, I'm stuck behind Eddie (though to be fair, that's not bad at all; it's actually pretty dang good) as the second chair, and second of the two bass trombonists. Still, I've been practicing, practicing, practicing, even when I have relatively little to look forward to, minus college auditions in August. Why do I keep on practicing this late in the year when I don't have anything to practice at in high school, and why do I practice when everybody else has stopped after our last batch of auditions? It's simple. I want to improve. I want to be the best I can. I want to compensate for my lack of natural talent compared to others and I want to outwork everybody else. Simply put, I know I can be a ton better and only by sheer work can I improve. Only working hard and maintaining that work ethic, it's the only way that you can get in the habit later on in life; who knows what might happen by working hard all the time.

I just want to work as hard as I can, no matter what happens. I only ask that people take notice and say, "Wow, that kid wants it badly." That's all I ask, and nothing else.


"Success is achieved and maintained by those who try and keep trying"
-W. Clement Stone
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"
- Steve Prefontaine
"Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it"
- Steve Prefontaine
"I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it"
- Steve Prefontaine
"I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win."
- Arnold Palmer