Drumline – college essay

Devon Myles, as played by Nick Cannon, is on a personal journey to be the greatest snare drummer that has ever gone through Atlanta A&T University. Devon wants to take part of every opportunity that comes his way while he is at college. But that also includes steamrolling people into thinking like him with his attitude. Devon also wants to help win the BET Big Southern Classic marching band competition. But will the band make it all the way to the final competition?

Devon receives his Call to Adventure when he is graduating from high school in Harlem, NYC. He is an incredibly adept percussionist and drumline captain, and has just received a full ride scholarship to Atlanta A&T University. Dr. Lee, who specifically came to visit Devon and his mom to persuade him to come to A&T, is trying to put together one of the best drumlines in the country and he wants Devon to be a key member of it. Devon realizes that this is the opportunity of a lifetime and jumps at the chance.

After arriving at Atlanta A&T, band practice begins and since Devon is a freshman, he is deemed a crab, the name given to freshmen band members who have not completed training. The training consists of physical training, some rudimentary music lessons and the training of how the members will be marching on the field. The crabs then have to complete a brief test to see if they are up to the challenge of being in the band. After the majority of the crabs can pass, they audition for a spot in the band, at which point they have successfully completed their road of trials.

Since Devon is from New York and believes that he can woo women any way he wants, he faces a true challenge when he comes across the girl he finds to be a goddess. Leila, who is a junior at A&T, at first thinks that Devon is just like all of the other guys to roll through college. After a while, she finds out that Devon is more than just a “ fly kid with an attitude,” and that they are genuinely good for each other. Devon especially proves to Leila that he is worth her time once they start getting serious.

In the middle of the marching season, Devon and Dr. Lee have a falling out because of his attitude toward things and his god complex of himself. For a while, Devon just went through college not having a true purpose until one day, he comes up with a great idea for an entrance cadence for a halftime show. At this point Devon decides to face his fears and go back to talk to Dr. Lee and try to get back into the band. Once Dr. Lee sees that Devon has changed his ways, then he decides to let him back in for the next show.

Devon crosses the return threshold a much wiser individual. He finds that once he doesn’t have the band in his life, he really has not point to be at that college. He feels extremely lonely and longs to be a part of the music that truly inspires him. Devon also realizes that having an attitude doesn’t cause people to like you, instead, it turns them off and pushes friends out of his life. Once he comes back, the entire drumline welcomes him with open arms.

Although Devon may not have realized it in the beginning of his journey, his actions and attitude would affect how the line would sound and how the whole band would behave as a result of that. He pulled through for the entire band by creating the brand new cadences and also allowed for Dr. Lee to grow as a director and educator after having dealt with Devon. The band also won the BET Classic with the help of Devon. Who knows, maybe in the sequel they could win another national title.