Whether she is slaving over a hot grill at McDonald's, running the bases on a softball field, or playing a jazz tune on her saxophone in the band room, everyone will always find this week's Portage Life in the Spotlight, Tracy Bermingham, smiling.
Bermingham is a senior at Portage High School and plays in the Beginning, Advanced, Jazz, and Marching Bands. She started band in sixth grade and plays the flute, piccolo, and alto saxophone.
"I thought joining band would be really cool in fifth grade when the band and orchestras came to my elementary school and played Harry Potter songs for us," Bermingham said.
Bermingham has lettered in band and has seven service bars as well as three shields from Marching Band, two regional competitions and one state qualifier for Marching Band as well. According to Bermingham she would not be the person she is without band.
"I have spent the last eight years of my life in the band rooms and it would not be the same," Bermingham said. "I have made friendships that will last me a lifetime and I just cannot think of how my life would be if I had never joined."
Even after spending three periods out of seven during the school day in the band room, she still goes home and practices. Bermingham spends three to four days a week practicing at home for about four hours each day.
It is true, practice does pay off in the end because after the countless hours of practicing Bermingham has been awarded with two gold medals and two silver medals for her solos she has performed for ISMAA contest Solo & Ensemble. She has also been a part of five gold medal group performances.
"I just thought winning a medal was normal, but when I won my first gold I was completely shocked," Bermingham said.
She does not only have herself to thank for these awards though, her directors William Timmerman, Drew Rhoda, and Andrew Schultz have been a huge part to her music career. According to Bermingham, she is going to miss her directors the most when she leaves high school in the spring.
"Once I graduate I will definitely miss them the most," Bermingham said. "They just mean to much to me."
Bermingham is not always in the band room though.When she was 16, she though just like about all of the other 16 year olds in the country. She wanted to get a job.
"As soon as I turned 16 I wanted a job so I applied just about everywhere and got a job at the McDonalds in Burns Harbor," Bermingham said. "After I started working I realized having extra money to spend as pretty great and working at McDonalds is not as bad as others say."
To add to her already busy schedule, she also plays softball at Portage Junior Miss Softball Fields.
When she's not working or practicing her instruments, she might just be up at bat at the Portage Junior Miss Softball Fields. Bermingham started playing softball when she was 12 years old and has loved it ever since.
"When I am out on the field it is one of the greatest feelings ever," Bermingham said. "I love the smell of the grass and even though I do not play for school or travel ball any more it is still my life."
Through it all there has always been two people who have been there for Bermingham, her parents. According to Bermingham, her parents are proud of her accomplishments and the extracurricular she does.
"They are proud of me, I mean I could have turned out much worse," Bermingham said.