Name, hometown, corps: Courtney Doolittle, Mobile, Ala., Spirit from Jacksonville State University What is your role in the corps this summer? Color guard captain Where do you go to school? I attend Louisiana State University, and I am studying chemical engineering. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. I attended Murphy High School in Mobile, Ala., where I was a member of the Mighty Marching Panther Band for four years: One year in the horn line (mellophone), and three years of color guard.

Left to right: Madeleine Dardeau, Jessica Burch and Courtney Doolittle
The last good book I read: "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking Three CDs I'd want on a deserted island: John Mayer's "Room for Squares," Barenaked Ladies' "Everything to Everyone," and Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me" My favorite TV show: "Law & Order" How do you "blow off steam?" Running really calms me down because it gives me time to just sort things out. Sometimes spinning a rifle will also help me "blow off steam." Why I march with the corps I am in: I march Spirit because of the family atmosphere, the brothers and sisters I've made in the past two summers. Was it always your goal to be in a leadership role? My original goal was to contribute to Spirit in any way that I could to benefit the organization, whether as a performer or a leader. How will you go about balancing the roles of leader and corpsmate? I do not think that it will be difficult to balance my two roles in the corps; I don't really view them as two separate things. I believe in leading by example, so if I'm doing what I need to as a performer and corps member, then I will be setting a good example, thereby doing my job as a leader. Plus, there are two assistant captains, so we all share responsibility as leaders -- we can all help each other be better leaders. What has been your formative drum corps moment? My formative drum corps moment was when we found out that we had made finals at San Antonio in 2002. It was the most exciting moment we had had together because our hard work and determination had finally paid off. What are you most looking forward to about the summer? Getting to spend time with my old and new brothers and sisters. Best thing about being a drum corps leader: Having a direct, positive influence on the corps. Worst thing about being a drum corps leader: The pressure During tour, the best part of the day is: When we get to perform the show in front of a crowd. During tour, the worst part of the day is: The worst part of the day is after rehearsal but before a show when there are lots of things to be done in a very short time. What do you want to be when your drum corps career is over? When my drum corps career is over, I want to be an engineer for a bit, and then I hope to teach. I also want to continue teaching color guard.