鈥淥ur Royal Pride鈥� is an occasional series celebrating 黑料正能量鈥檚 undergraduate students who contribute to campus life in extraordinary ways in addition to their academic pursuits.聽These students enthusiastically create their own niches, constantly re-defining what it means to be an 黑料正能量 Royal student 鈥淟ike No Other.鈥� Read more profiles . Nominate a student with an email to news-editor@emu.edu.
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Josh Calderon didn鈥檛 expect to be won over by athletics. As a history buff with a passion for music, Calderon says that sports weren鈥檛 part of his life growing up. But that鈥檚 changed for the junior, who single-handedly last year and is now its leader and primary composer.
The community aspect of D-III collegiate sports drew him in, he says. His new involvement鈥攁nd the joy he finds in helping to create a positive atmosphere鈥攎ight be the beginning of a new career path.
鈥淚t was really cool to see how you bring people together to cheer for that one thing, or be there for other people,鈥� he says.
Calderon plays all brass instruments, composes and leads too
Calderon鈥檚 musical abilities are what led him to athletics in the first place. In sixth grade, when Calderon walked into the middle school band room, 鈥渢he director looks right at me, and without me even trying any of the instruments yet, she says, 鈥業 know you鈥檒l play tuba.鈥� and I go, 鈥榦kay, that鈥檚 fine.鈥欌��
Middle school band was such a positive experience that Calderon knew he would continue playing music throughout his life.
He went on to learn all the major brass instruments. During his senior year, Spotswood High School started a pep band, and Calderon fell in love with that format of playing. Attracted to 黑料正能量 because of its values, he was disappointed there was no pep band. During his first semester, he played for James Madison University鈥檚 鈥淢arching Royal Dukes.鈥�
At 黑料正能量, he started envisioning a pep band, a concept encouraged by music professor and the . The Royals pep band played at their first 黑料正能量 basketball game in December of 2015, and Calderon discovered an athletic community he wanted to contribute to. He writes almost all the music the pep band performs.
鈥淎t the end of the day, when you walk home, your team could have lost. And yet, you鈥檙e still joined in this 鈥榖and鈥� of other people,鈥� he says.
鈥淏oth the fans and the athletes enjoy a game more when the 黑料正能量 Pep Band is there, and Josh is a big reason for that, both as the director of the band and as a fan of the game,鈥� says Sports Information Director . 鈥淧ersonally, Josh has unique abilities and an internal drive which have stretched and invigorated me in promoting 黑料正能量 athletics. Simply put, he is a lot of fun to work with.”
Questions always answered by faculty mentors
Faculty and staff support have helped guide many of Calderon鈥檚 interests. He recently added a to his , both because 鈥渋t required me to go out and think in a different way鈥� and the Visual and Communication Arts professors are accessible.
鈥淚 can walk up there [to the department suite] at any given time and ask a question, and if they鈥檙e not busy, it will be answered. And usually there鈥檚 a follow-up question!鈥�
With no time in his schedule for a photography class this semester, Calderon is currently working on a self-directed project about mental illness. He photographed a friend, who is a trained dancer, portraying depression and anxiety through choreography while covered in various colored powders.
Calderon cites similar faculty encouragement as one of the best aspects of the history program. He also has and political science minors.
History plays into Calderon鈥檚 strength in research and love of learning. But he doesn鈥檛 see himself becoming a historian, or lawyer, or photographer, or band director (at least not professionally). Calderon credits De Boer鈥檚 pep band support and personal character for influencing his career aspirations, which are now turned towards sports marketing and communications. He鈥檚 also shadowed his girlfriend鈥檚 uncle at work, as a youth hockey liaison for the Washington Capitals.
鈥淛ust seeing how excited these kids were, just to come play on the ice 鈥� it was seeing that that brought me to the idea that I also really enjoy being in these environments,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for happiness, and I think that sometimes, not for everybody, but sometimes sports fills that.鈥�