Extra Curricular Activities // Reed Denault

Extra Curricular activities hold special places in our lives.  We all have them, and look forward to them. We go to them when we are not in school, at work, or anything else we have to do. They are activities we volunteer for, and they are meaningful. That being said, we inevitably end up obtaining new knowledge of ourselves, and whatever else that activity involves. Personally, praise band is an extracurricular activity that has been meaningful to me in innumerable ways.
    
To start, praise band has brought meaning to my life in such a way that I can play for people. It has given me a crazy feeling of satisfaction when people sing along to the music that we make. In a musical sense, not much is more fulfilling (in my opinion) than to see all of your hard work and preparation pay off in the form of voices. Praise band has also allowed me to connect with people in school that I would not have previously connected with. I have gotten song requests from people that I do not normally talk to. I’ve even had the privilege of talking to people after chapel about my journey in the world of music, and showing them guitars.
    
Next, praise band has brought meaning to my life in such a way that I can praise God by simply doing what I love. God has given me a love for music, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. The way I see it, I am simply returning the favor and saying “thank you” in the form of a song. He has also blessed me with people to make music with. The fact that I get to do it with people I have grown tremendously close to in the last three years is a bonus. I believe that making music with others for God brings Him even more glory than if you were doing it by yourself.
  
Finally, praise band has brought meaning to my life in such a way that it has taught me more about myself than sports, school, or anything else could have ever taught me. In the past three years, I have learned some valuable lessons, and made some mistakes that ultimately made myself, and the band, better. I have learned to be comfortable in front of crowds. When I first got up on stage, I was shaking in my shoes. Now it is a breeze. I have gotten to the point where it almost does not even phase me. I have come to enjoy it. I have also learned that preparation is needed in order to have success in the world of music. That has been a rather important lesson if I must choose the most important. My skills in working with other people to have success have certainly grown. Praise band has come to be a source of betterment in my life in music.
    
​Overall, praise band has brought meaning to my life in a way that I can play for people, play for God, and it is always teaching me new lessons. I am forever thankful for this opportunity, and the honor that it is to play in this band. It has made me a better person, and taught me to use my mistakes to progress as a musician, and person altogether.  Praise band has been the extracurricular activity that has led to a more satisfying, and rich life.

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