Hitting Her Marks – Disability Doesn’t Stop Musician Selina Reynolds From Competing
Hitting Her Marks
Being Legally Blind Does Not Stop Musician Selina Reynolds From Competing With NCHS Marching Hornets
Selina Reynolds, ABOVE, was part of the Marching Hornets musicians who competed at the Metro East Marching Classic earlier in September. Unlike her teammates though, Reynolds is legally blind.
Marching Band is an activity which takes an enormous amount of dedication and hard work. Kids at NCHS who sign up for this activity know in advance that they will be known as the Marching Hornets.
After the performance is over, not one performer will have their name in the paper or get special recognition for their outstanding individual performance. The band is only recognized for their group effort. All work and dedication from the individual band or guard member is done so the group looks and sounds great.
Having said this, there is a Marching Hornet who deserves to be held up, saluted, and praised for her efforts. That Marching Hornet is Selina Reynolds.
Selina has had to overcome poor eyesight for a very long time. She needs her music and charts enlarged in order to see them when initially learning them.
This summer, without telling anyone, she made sure she learned her part as quickly as possible. She memorized all the music and the drill within a couple days and was quickly one of the best marchers on the field.
In early September, Selina had a surgery in hopes of correcting her sight in one eye. This surgery left her legally blind. At best, she could see blurry shapes.
The Marching Hornets compete at a high level and move quickly with a very detailed drill. In fact, the show is written especially for them every year.
Despite being advised to have help throughout the complex show, Selina was resolved to do it on her own and do it flawlessly. She was allowed to march on her own after a discussion with her mother revealed that she had been preparing for this and had memorized the show with the thought of performing after surgery.
Each time Selina goes on the field, she is helped by another student. The guide helps her find her first spot on the field and from that point she is on her own.
No one, including the top ranked judges at the Metro East Marching Classic in O’Fallon on September 9, can tell that she cannot see.
She marches with grace, poise, and technique while playing very challenging music. The Marching Hornets have to hit their spots with incredible accuracy.
They do not like missing their spots even by a few inches. This is difficult for anyone. For a person who cannot see, one would think it is impossible.
Selina achieves the impossible and excels while doing it.
NCHS band director Steve Browne states, “There are a some things I know I will never forget while teaching at NCHS. Although Selina does not desire any special recognition or special treatment, her ability to overcome adversity needs to be recognized.”
“Many people, including band members, do not even know what she is overcoming,” Browne continued. “She deserves all the recognition she can get. She is a leader and an inspiration to the rest of the students and staff at NCHS.”
