Fun Facts
April 25, 2025
Writer: Sydney Holzman
Edited by: Zoe Gellert
“What’s one fun fact about you?”
I am asked (admittedly because I do the asking) far more than the average person. If I don’t choose to mention that I was basically mute until age five, attended circus camp (yes, really), or appear yearly on local TV dressed as a hot dog, my default reveal is that I spent eight years as part of an all-female rock band. For over half that time, I was actually juggling two bands simultaneously,
Throughout high school, however, this “fun fact” felt far more like something to conceal. Transferring schools at fifteen dropped me into an environment that felt unnervingly judgmental, a stark contrast to my previous school, where for an unfiltered decade, I thrived as the loudest version of myself. Adamant that being labeled “band girl” would sabotage my chances at acceptance, I buried this quirky part of myself beneath layers of carefully curated normalcy.
High school has a funny way of turning things upside down; in my case, it was for the better. By eighteen, standing on stage at the Hard Rock Cafe during my final band concert, I was faced with a wildly cheering group of friends, impossible to ignore amidst filming parents, couples at the bar, and kids clustered up front. Instead of feeling embarrassed, I wondered how I had ever hidden something so fundamental to who I am. I vowed to embrace all my quirks as I prepared to begin my next chapter of unfamiliarity in college. Ironically enough, it was at another band concert just a few months prior where I first unknowingly crossed paths with my future college roommate and soon to be best friend.
Thanks to a healthy dose of maturity and an enthusiasm for exchanging fun facts, most of my friends (and probably too many acquaintances) now know my fifteen-year-old self’s biggest secret.
Asking others for their “fun fact” has become a signature icebreaker, offering immediate insight into someone’s values. Just recently, I learned that a friend played Wilbur in his elementary school’s rendition of Charlotte’s Web, my housemate’s boyfriend is fluent in Cajun French, someone who mistakenly stumbled into our house is color blind, and my roommate has to wear compression socks on flights. Apparently, some people’s facts are more practical than fun, but fascinating nonetheless (Thank you for your contribution, L).
Reflecting now, it is clear why I always gravitate back towards my band experience when my favorite question ricochets to me.
Band taught me adaptability. On our first day, our instructor asked who wanted to play each instrument. Nearly positive I would be placed on the keyboard, an instrument I had played my whole life, I was silent along with everyone else when he asked who wanted to play the drums. The silence continued, no hands went up, and before I knew it, I was volunteered. Without any rhythm or experience, I found myself holding drumsticks, half-excited, half-panicked. Somehow, it felt like a challenge worth taking.
Band taught me consistency. Even as life got increasingly hectic and schedules overflowed, Monday night rehearsals remained a non-negotiable. Those evenings became a steady anchor amidst a time defined by change.
Band taught me the significance of teamwork. One missed beat had the potential to derail an entire performance. That pressure drove me to practice diligently, not for my sake, but for all of us. Our best performances were a testament to our collective effort. I often joked my hardest job was counting to four at the start of each song, something seemingly trivial but critical for our success. Really, even something that small mattered.
What started as a simple way for five elementary school friends to stay connected as we moved to separate middle schools evolved into eight transformative years filled with countless rehearsals, performances, and ultimately a fun fact that tells a much bigger story.