Rachael Steffens is a senior at Laingsburg High School in central Michigan and a long-time percussionist with the varsity’s marching band. But you received’t see Rachael enjoying with the remainder of her bandmates on the sphere for the remainder of the yr.
It’s not as a result of she’s injured or sick, however as a result of she has a better objective.
She’s chosen to forego the season for essentially the most admirable motive attainable: to assist a good friend, a bandmate named Autumn, who will stagger and fall throughout marching formations except somebody’s by her facet.
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When Autumn Michels was simply 7 months previous, docs detected an inoperable mind tumor that was affecting her optic nerves; when she was 4 years previous, docs eliminated the tumor, however the process left her blind.
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Despite the sensible hurdles, Autumn realized to play the clarinet by ear and joined her center faculty’s marching band. She was capable of take part in marching drills because of the steering of 1 devoted, constant helper.
But fewer sources had been obtainable to her in highschool. She had completely different employees members and pupil volunteers filling the helper function somewhat than one individual, and issues bought a bit extra sophisticated.
“On one hand, I knew it was going to be a challenge and kind of scary, the whole proposition, but then, on the other hand, it was like ‘If I just go into it thinking there’s no limitations, and there’s nothing to hold her back, I know we’ll be successful,’” stated the highschool’s band director, Thomas Cousineau.
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And that’s the place Rachael is available in.
She and Autumn met throughout summer season band camp the place Rachael was tapped to assist information her youthful peer. The two hit it off, and when faculty began up once more within the fall, Rachael stepped into the helper function full-time.
“I asked Rachael when we got back from camp, and before I finished she cut me off and was on board,” Thomas stated. “She enjoys every minute.”
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Rachael performs her clarinet solely when the band sits within the stands – the remainder of the time, she’s strolling subsequent to Autumn.
“I’m still marching. I’m still on the field. I’m still with the band. I’m essentially doing the same thing I would be doing,” Rachael stated, “I’m just doing that with Autumn.”
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