A lifelong friendship through band
This story was originally published in The 812 print edition. Support us by subscribing to our monthly print edition that is delivered to your mailbox by clicking here.
(MILAN, Ind.) -- Milan freshman Molly Knecht first picked up the clarinet as a sixth grader with a dream of one day performing in the high school band.
At times it felt like a far-fetched dream, due to a genetic condition she was diagnosed with as a young girl.
Molly has ocular albinism, a condition that impairs her vision.
Due to her impaired sight, simple tasks like reading musical notes pose a challenge that most students don't face.
Coming in as a freshman this year, Milan band teacher Stefani Bedel knew Molly had the talent to be in band, but understood she might need a little extra help.
"I spoke with the counselor to find out if there were any students that had fifth period open for band practice," Bedel recalled.
It turned out that Alyssa Phelps was available during fifth period.
Phelps used to be a band member but had to quit when she had the opportunity to attend Ivy Tech classes to earn an associate's degree.
The 17-year-old heard about the band's request and signed up to help.
"I was nervous at first because I wasn't sure what I would be doing," Phelps admitted.
Molly quipped back, "You were nervous?! I was nervous!"
I asked Molly why she was nervous about having Alyssa's help.
"Because, it's not easy trusting somebody new," she said.
In order for Molly to follow along with the sheet music during a performance, she has to have an iPad a specific distance from her face. It is a contraption that was made just for her by the band director's husband, Rob Bedel.
With Molly focused on the iPad, she's not able to see what's happening around her while she marches with the band.
That's where Alyssa comes in.
Although she gets no academic credit for attending, Alyssa is at every band practice and performance. She memorizes the routines and walks right alongside Molly serving as her "eyes."
From parades to football games to concerts, Alyssa is always right there.
"It's just the little things that you don't notice. Like, during a parade march, there may be train tracks or a rock coming up that I wouldn't notice. I can't see anything in front of me and it's Alyssa's job to move me around and make sure I'm not falling over," Molly said.
The impact Alyssa has made on the freshman has been noticed by the teacher and the school.
Bedel recalls the first performance the two students had together this past summer.
"When we marched past Molly's entire family for the first time on July 4th, and her Mom was crying tears of pride and joy, so worth it! I am so proud of Molly for not giving up and for Alyssa volunteering to give Molly what she needs to succeed," Bedel said.
"She has volunteered all of her time and efforts so Molly could succeed. I'm not certain that Alyssa truly understood what her help would mean to the band and especially to Molly," Bedel added.
It has given Molly someone she can trust and also build a friendship with.
During our interview, Alyssa said she is planning to go on the annual Milan band tour later this year.
"Wait, you are!? You didn't tell me that! You're coming? I didn't know you were going," Molly enthusiastically asked.
The Milan band tour is a unique trip where the program visits a city, like Nashville or Atlanta, and tours the town for a few days before playing music at nursing homes.
Alyssa will remain by Molly's side on the tour. Not for the academic credits, but because she wants to be with her friend.
Molly is also finding success and overcoming her vision impairment all by herself.
The freshman has a passion for swimming and is a full-time member of Milan Aquatics. It's a hobby she picked up naturally as her mother used to swim in high school.
"She actually held one of the swimming records here, and it's been a goal of mine to beat her time and get my name on the record board in the same event," Molly said.
Her mother is also the inspiration behind her future career plans. While Molly has plenty of time to decide, her career goal, as of now, is to work in the medical field, just like her mother who works at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
As for Alyssa, she will graduate with an associate's degree and has aspirations to work in the travel industry as a trip director.
This story was originally published in The 812 print edition. Support us by subscribing to our monthly print edition that is delivered to your mailbox by clicking here.
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