It’s a Friday night, and the football team has just exited the field; who takes over? Freedom Area “Big Red" Marching Band. For eight minutes, the band takes charge, and all eyes are glued to those red and white uniforms. However, when Freedom activities are brought up in conversation, all that is discussed is the progress of our athletic teams. After reading Cole Leonberg’s article about respect for athletes, I asked myself: what about everyone else? The athletes deserve a lot of credit for persevering and making it through their games, but trust me: we "nerds" prep ourselves just as you athletes do for your big game. The football team does all year-round conditioning, practicing and getting ready for their next season. Marching band is the exact same way: continual year-round practice, whether on the field or in the band room. When you join band, you work until you graduate: there’s constant practice. Ms. Ross’s classes are continuously preparing themselves for the next performance as well. They spend countless school days simply rehearsing and rehearsing a single play. Don’t they deserve a little credit? Anyone involved in the musical has devoted hours upon hours to tedious practices. Students have worked for months to make the play as successful as they possibly can. And yet, their continual efforts don’t seem to be quite as exciting as whether or not the baseball team won last night. When you think about it, all of these kids are in the exact same boat as the athletes in our school. Our sports teams spend time focusing on their weaknesses, working to improve themselves as a team; does this not sound like what groups like performing arts or band does every time they get together? So maybe the kids in the play are "nerdy". Maybe the performing arts kids are "geeky", and the band kids are the "ones who sit by themselves at lunch". But let’s all face it; we know the kids have talents beyond belief. I’m sure you’ll be buying a ticket to go and see those "nerds" in the play this spring, and once the play is over, you’ll be on your feet just like everyone else, applauding the kids for putting on such a performance. Just as the athletes, these kids deserve respect. Next time you see someone from the band or performing arts, give them a pat on the back. They deserve it.