I don’t know if pep rallies get their due in the music world—they should. Autumn each year meant after‑school rehearsals, football games, parades, and yes, pep rallies. The noise, the lights, the surge of unified energy—it still thrills me. In those moments, the whole school came together for a shared purpose: pride. Students who had never spoken in the hallway found themselves standing side by side. We weren’t just spectators; we were a part of the wave. Sure, the focus was