Dawson Worley

BY SOPHIA WENGIER

It’s halftime and the Sound Of Pride Band and Color Guard are performing their show.  With so much going on, it’s hard to decide what to focus on, but one particular student tossing a rifle soon draws attention from the people sitting in the stands.  As it propels skyward and reaches its peak, it hesitates for a moment before plunging back towards the earth and into the hands of Cooper City High School Junior Dawson Worley.  With a quick, prideful grin at the crowd, he moves on to the next step in his routine, moving with such confidence that no one thinks twice about him belonging there.  There are cheers from the audience for the boy who can’t help but entertain.  It’s clear that he’s having the time of his life, but what many don’t realize is that behind the dazzling smile that the adoring crowd sees, is someone who just wants to make the world a little better.  

It seems as if Dawson Worley has stolen the hearts of everyone in Cooper City High School.  With his undeniable talent and passion for everything he does (not to mention the fact that he’s six foot five), it’s hard not to notice him. Dawson Worley was born a performer.  Since he was a child, he has been in numerous plays and musicals as well as being an active member of band.  When Worley came to high school, he was eager for more opportunities to put himself out there.  Worley decided to join winterguard, a competitive season of Color Guard that takes place after marching band.  From the very first time he picked up a flag, Worley knew that he had found his calling.  

Worley works not just to entertain, but also to encourage acceptance.  Although many will say that guard is “for girls,” that won’t deter him from being the best at what he does. By working hard and never giving up, he shows everyone that stereotypes don’t matter and nothing can stop you from doing what you love.   As a strong believer that anyone can be who they want to be, Worley fights for what he believes in by busting societal stereotypes wide open.  This couldn’t be more evident than with his involvement in the LGBTQ community.  Although Worley is surrounded by people who accept him for being gay, he still strives to make this world better for those who are less fortunate than him.  

“I do try to be an active part of the LGBTQ community, but above and beyond that, I try to make people better humans,” Worley said.  “All the LGBTQ community is trying to do is make more decent human beings. The better we can understand each other and the more we can accept that people are different, the more this world becomes a better place.”

Through an interview and application process, he was selected as the guard equipment captain.  His obvious talent and clear leadership skills made him a perfect candidate for this position, allowing him to be a role model and make his peers better performers and better people.  This position comes with a lot of responsibility.  Along with senior Taylor Green, Worley is in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly, whether it is by relaying information on the field or keeping the tons of equipment organized and together.  

Although the rehearsals can be strenuous and demanding, Worley never gives anything but his best- and loves every minute of it.  He can go for hours, tirelessly tossing and dancing and still have just as much energy and just as big of a smile as he did when he started.    

“Like anything in life there are days where you’re just gonna be tired and you’re not gonna want to do it,” Worley said.  “But those days always seem to happen the least around Color Guard.”

When he is not hard at work in guard rehearsals, Worley is putting his heart and passion into music. As the principal bassoon player in CCHS’ Wind Ensemble, Worley adds something special to the band. Last year, he participated in Festival of Winds.  Held at the University of South Florida, Festival of Winds consists of three concert bands and a jazz band filled with a collection students from all over the state. These students were nominated by their band directors and chosen for being the best at what they do. He is also a part of the Broward Youth Orchestra and is currently preparing an audition for the Broward All County Band, which would allow him to showcase his passion to a wider audience. Everything he does allows him to gain new experiences. It also allows him to bring back information and skills that he learned in order to make the Cooper City band better.  

“I do a lot of honor bands because they really just helps me as a musician and me as a person too,” Worley said.  “Being exposed to all these new things just really help you grow.”

Worley is hoping that his musical talent will help him for the future and has been preparing to audition for music scholarships since the beginning of his junior year.  The bassoon is a very uncommon but essential instrument. For someone as talented as Dawson Worley, music scholarships are a definite possibility.   

Music may be on the center stage, but there’s much more to him than band and color guard. Worley has an interest in the pharmaceutical line of work. He’s always had a love for science and knows that there is money in being  pharmacist. In order to get on his career path, Worley is considering majoring in Chemistry as it has always been an interest of his.  

“Music and performing and stuff oriented around that have always been a really big passion of mine,” Worley said.  “But careers in that field are not always stable and when they are they tend not to pay a lot of money.”

Although he doesn’t want to choose performing arts or music as his major, Worley has hopes to continue performing as an extra curricular. Drum Corps International, the major league for marching band and Color Guard, is a way that he can keep doing what he loves while following his career path. Worley has hopes to audition and get in to DCI in order to keep on spreading his charm and policies of acceptance with more than just Cooper City. Whatever he decides to do, it’s clear to anyone who knows him that Dawson Worley is destined for greatness.