Note to self: You are handcrafted.

The night was just starting. There were people waiting all around. It was that stuffy feeling that makes you think, 'Wow, there are way too many people here than there should be'.

Shoulders back, head up... I would repeat it to myself over and over. You should be so proud to be a part of this.

Everyone looking at us in awe. And was I ever proud.

Later the lights started to come on as the night sky began to darken. Before I knew it I found myself anxious as ever to see our rivals. They were very mixed feelings of hope, respect, and competitiveness. I heard the taps of the snare drum and watched as the girls, resembling little dolls, went out and floated around with the music. I saw rhythmic colors of green and blue. Their eyes sparkled. But soon something went very wrong. I didn't know how to feel about it, but before I could think about it I was running out there myself. A quick glance at the press box made me feel a little uneasy. Thoughts of "What ifs" and disaster ran though my head. Then I remembered that air that she talked about. That air that is so hard to achieve but would polish everything beautifully. Chin up, Hannah, you do thins everyday, focus. Tap, Tap, Tap and I hear the voices approaching like an army, "...17, 18, 19, HASH... Band halt!"
Next came the announcement of the respected people and blah, blah, blah. When you tune everything out and all you can think of is "Oh my gosh, am I really doing this?"

"Mark time mark"... silence... I watched the shoulders of the person in front of me go out and back in and I knew that was the last moment I had to hide. "Take a breath!"

Yelling and gasping for breath we got to the end of the song. Perfect, I thought proudly. Before I knew it the show was over and we were marching off the field. I didn't really know what happened out there. I can't really remember. It went by so fast.

'GUARD!' it was how we were called and we all knew exactly in what tone it was. 'Mrs. Stout wants to see us after third quarter!' Whatever this was it was important.

It was 2 til and I was bracing myself. I wasn't sure what to expect.

'GUARD!' There it was again.

Crammed into a little area partially enclosed with cement blocks we all nervously awaited a response.

'Do you realize that each one of you is handpicked?'


'Think about that for a second. Each girl here is picked out of a whole group of people and pulled together because we thought we could make this work.'

'Well guess what, we did!'
The whole guard yelled in excitement.

We then received news that. People cried when we performed and people stood dumbfounded with their jaws dropped at us. We were also told we could very possibly come out at the top of our class at Seymour if we kept this up. The thought of that made me want to just die, it was so amazing. TOP OF OUR CLASS?! We thought we would never do it again. But there we were Bold, polished, and more proud than we've been yet this season. I felt like I could take on the world at that moment.

Friday night was amazing for the RCHS Color Guard. But when Mrs. Stout was talking about how we were all handpicked it got me thinking about God. I thought about how he made each one of us so detailed. He handcrafted each of us to to be unique and beautiful in our own ways. I thought about how crazy it is. God knows me better than anyone, he knew me even before I was born. He made my personality develop the way it did for a reason. God knows what he's doing and he knew what he was doing when he created me. He did this INTENTIONALLY. I wasn't just a person. I'm not just a meaningless form of life. I have a deep calling from God to fulfill my purpose. Who am I to misjudge God's own creation.

Now I should feel like I can take on the whole world.