Coaching our club's band for a competition was an incredibly rewarding experience, especially since it was one of the lead vocalist's first-ever performances. We decided to perform Sweater Weather and Zombies, two songs with distinct moods and challenges that required thoughtful arrangements to stand out on stage. In the jam room, I worked closely with the vocalists, helping them refine their pitch and achieve the right balance in harmonies, which was especially important for our first-time lead. With the instrumentalists, we experimented with various arrangements until we landed on a sound that felt both dynamic and cohesive. Watching everything come together in the final rehearsals was a moment of pride for everyone involved.

On the day of the performance, I was down with the flu and had resolved to stay home, thinking I wouldn’t be able to contribute much. However, to my surprise, every band member called me, urging me to come to the venue—they wanted me to be there for the performance I had helped shape. Their encouragement gave me the motivation to push through, and I made it just in time to see them take the stage. The band delivered a flawless performance, with the lead vocalist stepping up and singing with incredible confidence, making it hard to believe it was their debut. The energy on stage was electric, and when the judges announced that the team had won first place, it felt like all the effort and late-night jam sessions had paid off. Being part of that journey, from coaching to seeing the final performance, was a reminder of how collaboration and belief in each other can create something truly memorable.