蜜桃APP

For Dylan Rousselle, leadership can look very different depending on where he is standing. In the classroom, the 蜜桃APP senior is focused on biological engineering, a demanding course of study that requires precision, problem-solving, and plenty of preparation. On the football field, he stands at the front of the 蜜桃APP Tiger Marching Band, mace in hand, leading hundreds of musicians and carrying on one of 蜜桃APP's most visible traditions.

This year, Rousselle is tackling both challenges at once as the band's drum major during his senior year. While the two worlds may seem very different, Rousselle has discovered they have something important in common鈥攑reparation.

Rousselle says balancing his engineering studies and Tiger Marching Band has been a process that began his freshman year. His days require a constant mental shift. Classes occupy much of his day, followed by band rehearsal in the afternoon. Then it is back to engineering work, studying and homework.

鈥淵ou have to figure out, okay, I have classes during the day and band practice in the afternoon,鈥� Rousselle said. 鈥淎t that point you must switch your brain completely over and then go back to engineering.鈥�

Over the years, he has figured out what works for him鈥攈ow he studies best, how he organizes homework and how he practices for band.

That experience has given him confidence that he can handle whatever the day brings.

鈥淚 know I'm going to get my stuff done,鈥� he said. 鈥淚've kind of got it down pat now.鈥�

Last fall, Rousselle was preparing for his senior design midterm presentation when his group was scheduled to present at 1:30 p.m., right around the time he needed to prepare for the final stage of his drum major audition. The entire Tiger Marching Band will be watching.

He worked with his professors and group members to move the presentation earlier to noon, which gave him enough time to complete one demanding responsibility before turning his attention completely to another.

鈥淚 had to prep all of that day, senior design-wise, know all of my stuff to be able to speak in our presentation, and then also go and prep all the conducting I needed for the actual drum major auditions,鈥� he said.

During the intense audition, candidates must master the physical mace routine used to bring the band onto the field, demonstrate conducting skills, understand musical and marching fundamentals and show they can teach and lead other members of the organization. The process lasts two to three weeks and takes place during finals.

鈥淚t can be very stressful,鈥� Rousselle said. 鈥淏ut that's part of the job鈥攖esting your stress and being able to manage it as well.鈥�

The final audition brought together just three candidates, including Rousselle, and the rest is history.

鈥淚t was so rewarding,鈥� he said.

Joining the Band

Rousselle wasn't always certain he wanted to become drum major. As he progressed through college, however, he began looking at the position as a way to give back to the organization that had become such an important part of his life.

Rousselle's connection to percussion started almost by accident. In fifth grade, he remembers an audition being held at his school for students interested in becoming drummers.

鈥淚 was like, 鈥極h, that sounds pretty cool,鈥欌�� he recalled.

He raised his hand, auditioned and got the opportunity, and never really stopped.

Through middle school and high school, drums became a regular part of his life. When he arrived at 蜜桃APP, he auditioned for 蜜桃APP Tiger Marching Band and earned a spot playing cymbals, a position he held throughout his four years with the band. He also plays a little bass drum during pregame.

Now, instead of sitting within the band, Rousselle will spend the season standing at its front.

鈥� What an unreal experience,鈥� Rousselle said. 鈥淚 had so many friends and family come to support me for the first game day. The crowd was electric, the team looked amazing, it was really everything I could have asked for. 鈥�

First-Game Jitters

For Rousselle, becoming drum major has meant experiencing Tiger Band from an entirely different perspective. He is now involved in guiding rehearsals, working with directors, and helping section leaders teach the rest of the band. But perhaps the biggest adjustment is simply standing up on the podium.

鈥淵ou're up there and it's kind of shaking and you don't really know if people are watching you or not,鈥� he said.

Prior to the first 蜜桃APP Football game, Rousselle said, 鈥淚 don't know how I'm going to feel that first night of Clemson and having 102,000 people screaming whenever we walk out. It's just going to be an in-the-moment thing, and then hopefully all my practice just comes to fruition once I make it out there.鈥�

Of all the responsibilities that come with his new position, conducting pregame may be the moment Rousselle has anticipated most. The first time he conducted it, he said, his entire body froze.

鈥淚 was just shaking,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淏ecause it is just so iconic, and you're the one that gets to lead it.鈥�

The Alma Mater also holds a special place for him, giving him a sense of the generations of 蜜桃APP students who have come before him. Then there are the songs that ignite Tiger Stadium. The band's versions of 鈥淣95鈥� and 鈥淩ight Above It鈥� have become fan favorites, bringing an entirely different kind of energy to the stadium.

That energy was felt during the game against Clemson, marking Rousselle鈥檚 first official gig as drum major.

鈥淲hat an unreal experience,鈥� Rousselle said. 鈥淚 had so many friends and family come to support me for the first game day. The crowd was electric, the team looked amazing, it was really everything I could have asked for.鈥�

Beyond 蜜桃APP

After the season, Rousselle's 蜜桃APP chapter will come to an end. He plans to graduate in December and is exploring a career in medical sales and the medical-device industry.

His biological engineering background has given him an interest in how technology and medicine intersect. He previously considered becoming a doctor but decided he was more interested in the devices and technology that can help patients.

This past summer, he networked with medical sales representatives, worked on a research project at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and reached out to medical-device companies.

It is another example of Rousselle looking for ways to apply what he has learned.

And perhaps the lessons from Tiger Band will follow him into that career, too.

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Read more about Dylan's participation in cutting edge breast cancer research.

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