Of the many fond memories I have of Norwich High School’s Spirit Week, minus the time it took me approximately 15 minutes to make a simple lay-up in front of the entire school, one in particular sticks out.
I formed my first band in the early spring of 1992, my freshman year, in addition to penning my first handful of original tunes. Back then, the winners of the Spirit Week Talent Show, which makes its reappearance this year, were granted the opportunity to compete for classmates and staff in the gymnasium for the big finale, purple versus white, something bassist Nate Natoli, drummer Randy Heuer and I relished and feared equally.
After winning the preliminary round, our unnamed band spent countless hours rehearsing in preparation for the big performance, which was one of my first. If my memory serves me correctly we’d decided on an original composition of mine for the competition, “Constant Reminder,” one of the first songs I ever penned.
I’ll never forget the bout of stage fright I experienced that day, a malady that still afflicts me from time to time, yet I also remember the adrenaline rush that accompanied my guitar solo. I had borrowed a 50-foot cable from my father for the occasion, and bravely strode to the center of the gymnasium, a moment I’ll never forget.
That Spirit Week performance was truly a life-changing experience for me, and paved the way for my future musical endeavors. My hat goes off to the current administration, and the students, for their enthusiastic embrace of this fun and proud event. I cannot in good faith cheer for one team or the other, as I was a member of both through my high school years, so instead I’ll just say good luck to both and have a fantastic time.