Marching band and football are two popular activities at Kennedy High School. Junior Henry Wilkes manages to do both during his football season.
During FNL season, Wilkes participates in both band and football on game days. He is a trumpet player in the marching band and a linebacker /running back on the football team. Before the game starts, Wilkes stays with the team to prepare for the game. It’s not until halftime when he goes to perform with the band.
“In order to play with the band at halftime, I have to have someone bring my trumpet to the game and then leave my helmet on the sideline,” Wilkes said. “It isn’t hard to get from football to band on game days, it’s more challenging to get back on the field after playing with the band during halftime.”
Band and football are both two time-consuming activities. Kennedy’s band practices every A-Day on top of a four-hour rehearsal every Monday night.
“I have to wake up early on A days because we have band practice early. We have to be in the band room by 7:15 and the field by 7:30,” Wilkes said. “Right after football practice we have afternoon band practice from 5:30-9:00, so I have no extra time for anything else.”
Even without being involved in two activities, with large time commitments, balancing homework can be difficult, but Wilkes manages to pull it off.
“On home football game days, our band rehearses after school before the game starts around seven. Henry never comes to these rehearsals because the football team has a team discussion before the game starts,” junior band member Mirabelle Sackfield said. “It’s difficult having homework assigned on the days we have marching band practice. I always try to get it completed in school, otherwise I’ll have no time.”
In order to participate in a football game or a band competition you cannot have a failing grade in any class. This is not something Wilkes has to be concerned about because he has a 4.0 GPA, but that takes time and dedication to school work. Wilkes has to dedicate even more time to homework and studying outside of school to maintain his GPA.
“Football and band both take time away from my school work. It is stressful sometimes learning how to manage my time between school and both of my extracurricular activities,” Wilkes said. “I tend to think of myself as a good student, I’m in two AP classes and I also have to manage maintaining my 4.0 GPA.”
Wilkes does not have a favorite out of his two extracurricular activities. Both activities share some similarities but there are many differences as well.
“I enjoy playing both football and band,” Wilkes said. “I’ve been doing both for several years and both of them are very competitive.” “I love the competition they both bring, I think the biggest thing they both have in common is how time-consuming both activities are.”
From an outsider’s perspective, it may be perceived as difficult to do both activities during the same season. However, Henry Wilkes proves it is possible.
“I believe doing both football and marching is manageable, but difficult for sure,” Wilkes said. “I’ve learned that as long as I am managing my time well I will be okay.” “I always make sure to never let either of my activities take away from my education and my school work though.”
