Nashville

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been to Nashville, I’d have 3 nickels, which isn't a lot but weirdly cool it happened three times!

It’s a city I’ve always thought about visiting, but never really put much thinking into when it would happen. I surely didn’t think it’d be during my freshman year of college. Nonetheless, I’m grateful for the past few opportunities to do so through marching band.

It’s still surreal that music has brought me this far, literally, to Music City. There was a time when I didn’t really know whether I would pursue marching band after high school. I wasn't aware of the options available, or the amazing experiences that awaited me. When I realized how hard it was going to be to say goodbye to music, I decided to factor it into my college decision. And boy did I make the best choice.

The 3 different trips I’ve taken to Nashville were all with my college marching band. My first trip felt so random, especially since it was a week before spring break and I had classes. But I was able to work with my professors to ensure I was caught up while away, and everything worked out in the end.

I’ve spent a lot of time on Broadway. At first glance, downtown was so colorful. Everywhere was lit up, and the streets were packed. Even late at night, there’s still a lot of people out. I loved walking down the street and hearing live music in every direction. While I wasn’t able to go into many places after eight p.m., I still got to enjoy a nice stroll. My friends and I tried a few different places (a lot of sweet treats), but we always came back to Hattie B’s.

I don’t necessarily like too spicy food, so I didn’t experiment too much with the different heat levels. But the sandwich and fries were so filling, and every bite was so comforting, especially when surrounded by good company.

On each different trip, I tried to do something new. First trip was just me taking in everything. The second trip was in December, so the city still had a bunch of Christmas decorations that we enjoyed seeing. Even though we didn’t go into it because we were on a time crunch, we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and still managed to see the free exhibits. It’s really cool when you think about how Nashville has launched the careers of countless singers and musicians. It's a city where legacies are carved and new possibilities are always taking shape. The third trip, we ventured to the Opry Mills Mall and Boot Barn, where my friend bought a cowboy hat.

These past three trips have been each exciting and full of new discoveries, leaving me hopeful for the next visit. Music has played such a special role in my life, and it’s evident in the photos and memories I look back on because it brings me back to all the wonderful people and places.

Now, I present an array of photos from these trips: Nashville through my eyes!