The Rubidoux High School Color Guard recently won the Guard Room Makeover Contest held by Winter Guard International and Director's Showcase International (WGI/DSI). The competition invited color guard squads to submit videos on why a particular unit deserved new performing equipment such as sabers, rifles, flags, and flag poles.
Two RHS seniors and color guard captains, Jasmine Barragan and Celeste Hernandez, produced a heartfelt video about the small but growing program, the challenges of performing with suboptimal equipment, and the legacy new gear would leave for the program going forward.
The girls' video was selected as the winner from “tons of videos from all over the country," according to a WGI/DSI spokeswoman. As a result, $1,547 of new equipment was awarded to the Rubidoux High color guard.
Sarah Choi, RHS band director and teacher, said the teachers gathered the guard members for a meeting, pretended they'd heard nothing about the contest, then revealed that RHS had won. The students' reaction was nothing short of exultant: whooping, clapping, and tears.
“With the new equipment available to us now we can expand our creativity with choreography without worrying about if we have the equipment for it," Celeste said. “Our guard can finally showcase our true potential."
Color guard interprets band and percussion music through dance and choreography with flags, rifles, and sabers. RHS guard members perform at rallies, at halftime during school football games, and in color guard competitions.
The program depends on money from the school and district plus student and booster fund-raisers, supplemented by teachers' personal generosity, said Ms. Choi.
“Although the students work very hard to fundraise, it is often not enough," she said. “We would have to sell about 52 boxes of chocolate, 310 car wash tickets, or 413 poinsettias to fundraise [$1,547]."
The students received the new equipment in December. The upgrades will elevate all three of the program's teams: All-male, Black (all-female JV), and Gold (co-ed varsity). The first two squads work on building skills, moving comfortably, and learning to enjoy dancing. They also convey messages through their choreography.
“The All Male show was titled 'My Father's Son.' It was a show that resonated a lot with our students throughout our program," said Ms. Choi. "It was about a man who was about to have a child of his own, reminiscing about his relationship, or lack thereof, with his father. His father never taught him to tie a tie, or shave, or how to throw or receive a punch. His father told him that boys don't cry. At the end of the show, the main question he has for his father is, did I make you proud? Are you proud to call me your son? It was a challenging show for many of them to perform because it hit so close to home, but each rehearsal and performance was a chance for them to make peace with something that troubles many of them. We even had a judge begin to cry on tape because he was so moved by the performance."
The Gold team, largely composed of older students, competes at higher levels, gets creative with show design, and pushes the envelope to stand out against rivals. Last year, all three RHS teams medaled at championships – a milestone for a program that has grown dramatically in recent years. In 2014, RHS color guard had about nine students. This fall, the team had 27 members, and this spring it has 53. Ms. Choi ascribes the growth to increased student awareness of the program, the student leadership roles the program offers, and coach Eman Muro.
“He is young, innovative, and pushes the kids to their limits, all while prioritizing their experience above everything. We are truly lucky to have him on our team," she said.
To thrive in color guard, students simply need an open mind and a willingness to work hard. In return, the program helps students build a range of life skills.
“Color guard helps me improve lots of personal skills that are used in everyday life," Celeste said. “Like accepting criticism, working with others, and providing leadership to others."
Jasmine added, “The most valuable lesson I've learned from color guard is that you should never say 'I can't' – because giving up won't take you anywhere in life."
Ms. Choi said, “Color guard teaches students so much. They, of course, learn how to handle equipment and dance, but through that, they learn a skill set that will help them become well-rounded and good people. By coming to rehearsal on time and by being early, they learn the kind of skills they need to be successful in both higher education and in the workplace, as well as personal relationships...Even through the action of learning choreography or flagwork, they are learning to persevere through the difficult so they can achieve the incredible."
