Grand Island tuba player shows tenacity in creative pursuits


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GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Carrying a tuba isn't easy.

Megan Vaughn knows that. She has been there for the long marches in parades and at the football games on hot nights. She knows what it feels like to sprain her shoulder carrying the instrument, to not be able to lift her arms after a performance and to keep playing when she feels like her lungs have no more air to make a sound.

As the only tuba player at Grand Island Central Catholic, she's been there, the Grand Island Independent (http://bit.ly/1P7sodF ) reported.

But in the moments when Vaughn comes out of the stands or reaches the end of the route, she also knows what it's like to see people impressed that she was able to do all that.

That feeling motivates her, and the Central Catholic senior uses it to keep moving forward in her many creative pursuits.

"It makes you feel good that you're doing something people don't think you can do," she said.

Vaughn lives in Grand Island with her parents, and she grew up with an older brother and sister.

In fifth grade, when she was starting band, it was one of her sister's friends who sparked her interest in playing tuba.

When she and the other fifth-graders were choosing instruments, Vaughn said, she was between the flute and the tuba.

Her sister's friend played tuba, however, and she would often come over to play with Vaughn's sister, who played trumpet. Vaughn remembered how impressed she had been.

"I was like, wow, that's really cool, because you never see a girl playing that big of an instrument," she said.

Vaughn started on the baritone, an easier instrument for younger kids, but within a short time, she was so good that her band director asked if she wanted to try tuba.

Though the instrument was about as big as she was and though it was tough for her to get enough air out to make a sound, she said yes.

"It was hard, and I struggled with it, but that just drove me to stay with it, and I ended up absolutely loving it," she said.

Now in high school, Vaughn has led the low brass and woodwind section for four years, and she is in her second year as a band officer.

She plays essentially year round in marching band, concert band and pep band. This weekend, she will perform with Central Catholic in the Harvest of Harmony Parade.

Having a tuba in the band, she said, makes a difference, forming the bass and stabilizing the sound.

Priscilla Balasa, the band director at Central Catholic, said having Vaughn in the band has a similar effect.

"She's just remarkable," Balasa said. "She's got a great attitude, and she's the kind of kid that everyone wants to work with."

Balasa said Vaughn is one of her "shining stars." She said she helps the younger kids learn their parts and keeps them calm in unfamiliar situations, such as before competitions. Balasa said she tries not to stereotype which gender plays which instrument, and Vaughn is a great role model in that aspect, as well.

"On our board we have, 'Believe in God, believe in yourself and believe in what we can do together,'" Balasa said. "And she's a fantastic model of that."

Vaughn is also an outstanding musician, playing in honor band, Balasa said, and she has worked hard for every improvement she has made.

"If she sets her sights on something, there's no stopping her," Balasa said.

That's something Vaughn applies to her many other pursuits, as well.

She has always loved art, and she has taken a myriad of classes in high school. She has also been a member of the art club for three years.

Once, in class, Vaughn told her teacher that she wanted to make a giant bowl on the pottery wheel. Her teacher told her it would be difficult, she said, but she knew she could do it.

"I was like, yeah, I got this," she said.

Though her arms were tired from shaping the piece by the end, she did it.

She also works hard in the classroom, where she earned entry into the National Society of High School Scholars for academic excellence, and though she is in her first year in journalism, she is the photographer, meaning she shoots many activities at Central Catholic.

She has played softball for four years. There, too, she is motivated to overcome expectations.

Though Vaughn has played with the varsity squad at times, she has also played on junior varsity, and she said she looks at every day as an opportunity to get better.

In the winter, she said, she would often practice her hitting at the Community Fieldhouse, and she's seeing results.

Now she is sometimes put in varsity games to hit.

"It feels good that they know, if I get in there, I'm going to get something done," she said.

Her coach, Brock Culler, said he and Vaughn's teammates see her hard work, too.

She doesn't miss practice, he said, and she's often the first one there and the last to leave. She's constantly working, never complains and is always striving to apply what they're teaching to get better, which she has.

"There's no question," Culler said. "This is a my third year, and where Megan Vaughn was three years ago and where Megan Vaughn is now as a softball player has taken a full turn."

That tenacity is something Vaughn plans to take with her after graduation.

She loves that art allows her to be herself, and she plans to pursue a creative field. She said she is interested in graphic design and would love to travel the world and take photographs.

Although softball and music don't necessarily factor into her future career, Vaughn said she could see herself continuing to be involved with both recreationally. And the lessons she has learned will stick with her.

"Just the fact of persevering even though it's going to hurt, even though it's going to be hard or no one's going to believe in you, it's going to make me stronger in the end," she said.

___

Information from: The Grand Island Independent, http://www.theindependent.com

This is an AP Member Exchange shared by The Grand Island Independent

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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