Teens of Bay Area

After ten years of competitive ballet and four years of basketball, Lynbrook High School senior Michelle Yang fell in love with Taylor Swift and Color Guard (though perhaps not in that order).

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to consistently throw and catch those four foot flags and rifles, Michelle has an unexciting (but truthful) answer for you: months of practice. Yet, she maintains that even though it’s challenging and stressful at times, it’s a rewarding experience. 

Transitioning from the rigid selection of moves and classical music of ballet to the sophisticated formations and range of choreography Color Guard offered was what initially attracted Michelle. 

“Honestly, I didn’t expect much out of Color Guard since it was just a rebound after quitting my old sports,” Michelle said. “But it was just so different in many ways. For one, it was more adaptive and flexible. We have equipment to spin and more emotions to express  — as opposed to always sticking to the gracefulness of  ballet’s style.”

Ever since, Color Guard has become an everyday activity for Michelle. Now, it is her second year as a captain, and focuses on leadership meetings, engaging practices, organized performances — anything to repeat Lynbrook’s 2024 championship.

“We were almost last or second to last place at the beginning of the season,” Michelle said. “So it was really rewarding to see it all work out in the end.”

But Michelle isn’t only committed to sports. Offstage, Michelle thinks of herself as a math enthusiast, indulging herself in math courses such as Multivariable Calculus, which she has been taking at West Valley community college.

“Making my own interpretation of things and putting my own thoughts into words has always been hard for me,” Michelle said. “That’s why I appreciate math; it was more analytical and logical, and that straight-forwardness was what really interested me.”

Oh, and her status as a swiftie? Michelle can explain her fandom.

“I think Taylor’s work ethic is beyond crazy,” Michelle said. “She’s been on a world tour for over 500 hours since March of 2023, and I think that being able to balance everything — especially as a big artist — is something I really look up to as a busy student.” 

Though more than anything, Michelle has shown us that it takes resilience and passion to excel — whether onstage, offstage or in a classroom setting.