Mikayla Clark, a junior in winter guard, looked back on this season with a lot of pride. Going into the final competition, Clark reminded herself that no matter what happened, their team had worked hard and given it everything. “I prepared for the competition by remembering that regardless of the outcome, we had given it our all and should be proud of our journey throughout the season,” she said. Even though she felt like they had a solid chance at winning, the season came with its fair share of challenges. But Clark said the team stuck it out and kept going.
Even though they didn’t take first place, Clark was still super proud of how far they came. “Although we didn’t win, we secured third place in our division, and I was overjoyed,” she said. “While we may have made mistakes, we pushed through and performed our final show.” Right before that last performance, they all had a big group hug, like always. Usually, they’d say “Last time, best time,” but this time, they said the name of their show “Broken Pieces.” It was one of those emotional moments that really stuck with her.
If you’re thinking about joining winter guard, Clark says to just go for it. “Cherish the experience while it lasts,” she said. She talked about how the people you meet become some of your closest friends because you’re with them almost every day. It’s not just about performing, it's about the laughs, the inside jokes, and all the little moments that make it fun. According to Clark, it’s those friendships that keep you going and make guard something you’ll never forget.
Caption: Mikayla Clark and two of her coaches at the beach for a celebration after they scored 3rd place in their competition.