At 6:20 in the morning, Sam Acosta’s mother wakes him up, and he rises from the bed that he won’t be back in for almost another 18 hours. After getting ready for the long day to come, he eats some Fruity Pebbles; a breakfast choice that’s frowned upon.
“We aren’t supposed to drink milk because the milk might spoil and upset our stomachs,” junior Sam Acosta said. “But it doesn’t usually upset my stomach much.”
Acosta shows up for practice 10 minutes earlier than he has to, at 7:20 a.m., so he has time to set up his trumpet. The band practices their halftime routine until the first bell rings. Acosta dashes to his Pre-Calculus class to turn in homework and then heads back to band which is his first class of the day.
“In band on Fridays, we have a study hall so that people have time to do anything they need,” Acosta said. “I had already finished my homework so I just sat with some friends.”
During the pep rally, Acosta stands with the band on the gym floor, playing the school song and the fight song.
“I love pep rallies,” Acosta said. “It’s a time when I can shout and just have fun.”
After band, Acosta goes to Music Theory, a class he’s taking since he wants to be a drum major next year. At lunch, he eats a PB&J sandwich, Rice Crispy Treats, snacks and plenty of water.
In the afternoon, he goes to AP English and Pre-Calculus before rushing to the band hall when the final bell rings. He practices with the band and the middle schoolers for Eighth Grade Night, leaving only 15 minutes to grab food before inspection.
After getting off the bus at Bible, he performs with the band before the game, an unusual occurrence because of Eighth Grade Night. During halftime, Acosta stands surrounded by eighth graders, playing his trumpet for the combined performance of both high school bands and middle school students.
“The performance is No. 1 in my book,” Acosta said. “Some people like socializing, but playing is my passion.”
Acosta is on his feet every minute of the game. In the stands, he shouts at the field, then turns to his eighth grade counterpart to give advice. Seconds later, he whisks his trumpet up to play another song. This continues throughout the game. Acosta says later he loses his voice every single game.
“The energy comes with my personality,” Acosta said. “It’s just how I am.”
At around 12 that night, he gets home. He tries to eat some dinner, but starts to fall asleep halfway through and decides to just go to bed. Finally, he lies down in the bed that he previously woke up from 18 hours ago.
