When I told my band director I was choosing Alcorn over Jackson State, he almost choked. "JSU has one of the best bands in the country," he said. "Alcorn is... smaller." He was being polite. What he meant was: "Are you stupid?" But I had my reasons. I visited both schools. JSU is impressive. Big stadium. Big band. Big everything.
But when I talked to students, something felt off. They were competitive in a way that seemed cold. Like they were all trying to outshine each other. Then I visited Alcorn. It's not fancy. The stadium is small. The facilities are old. But when I talked to band members, they were warm. They asked about my instrument. They invited me to eat with them. They introduced me to the director without me even asking. The director sat with me for an hour. An hour. He asked about my goals. My strengths. My weaknesses. He said: "I can teach you to play better.
What I can't teach is passion. You have that. Come here, and I'll help you grow." That's what I needed. Not a famous program. A teacher who saw me. I start in the fall. I'm nervous. But I think I made the right choice.
But when I talked to students, something felt off. They were competitive in a way that seemed cold. Like they were all trying to outshine each other. Then I visited Alcorn. It's not fancy. The stadium is small. The facilities are old. But when I talked to band members, they were warm. They asked about my instrument. They invited me to eat with them. They introduced me to the director without me even asking. The director sat with me for an hour. An hour. He asked about my goals. My strengths. My weaknesses. He said: "I can teach you to play better.
What I can't teach is passion. You have that. Come here, and I'll help you grow." That's what I needed. Not a famous program. A teacher who saw me. I start in the fall. I'm nervous. But I think I made the right choice.
