Shagun Talwar’s ’27 hands sweat around the pole of her flag. In only her fifth ever color guard competition, Talwar is uneasy about her technical skills. Nonetheless, she looks at the smiling faces of her supportive teammates and knows that they will support her no matter what. With a deep breath, the song begins, and Talwar gives a perfect performance with her team that would earn them first place in the Midwest Color Guard Circuit. 

Talwar may have begun high school as a newcomer. But Talwar, with a determined spirit, the strength of community bonds, and a kind disposition, never felt like a stranger. With hard work and the support of friends, she became a captain of her team, and an inspiration to younger color guard members.

Talwar moved from Bangalore, India to the United States as a young child, and lived in various states including Texas, Indiana, and Illinois. Though she attended Half Day elementary school, which feeds into Daniel Wright Junior High and eventually Stevenson, she spent middle school in Indiana, where she felt isolated in a community that she didn’t relate to. As she returned to Illinois for high school, Talwar knew no one and was concerned that she wouldn’t fit in.

But Talwar was determined to have a positive experience. She made friends quickly, including her best friend Akshata Gupta ’27. In their freshman year, Gupta asked Talwar to attend a winter guard informational meeting with her, preparing for the competitive season of color guard.

“I was scared because I thought I would need dance experience,” Talwar said. “I thought I would hate it, but I was overwhelmed with how kind everyone was. We all just clicked.” 

The supportive nature of the color guard team encouraged her to fall in love with the activity. She describes how the environment encouraged its members to feel a sense of communal belonging.

“I don’t think it’s ever a competition with each other in color guard,” Talwar said. “We strive to be like each other and we take skills from each person.”

Talwar emphasizes that team members inspire one another in the color guard community, which is essential to creating an environment in which members can improve. Additionally, leadership systems are in place to help every team member succeed. So,when Talwar was struggling with learning all the new tricks, she could look to her teammates and leaders for help. She turned to her color guard captain, Caroline Alip ’26. 

“I remember when Caroline helped me get my one-handed 45, a trick in color guard,” Talwar said. “As my first ever captain, she’s my role model. Those role models are so important to me because they’re the only reason that I’m working towards my goals.” 

Alip, who is now a captain alongside Talwar, has fond memories of teaching her when she was a freshman. She describes Talwar as a fast learner and having great determination, needing minimal support to be successful. 

“Shagun is one of those people who’s just naturally talented,” Alip said. “She sees what she wants to do, and then she does it.”

After a successful freshman year, Talwar continued to prioritize improving her technical skills during the winter season of her sophomore year. Talwar became a part of the Fun Brigade, a leadership position that plans social events. 

As the year progressed, she began to feel confident in her skills and strived to achieve higher positions of leadership in color guard, applying to be a captain. Color guard coach Michael Tseitlin remembers her application as standing out in comparison to the rest. 

“It was very clear that she understood the values and the culture of the color guard program at Stevenson,” Tseitlin said. “She’s a hardworking student, spinner, and performer.”

After the application was sent, Talwar was called in for an interview with Tseitlin. When she was told she had been offered the role of captain, Talwar was ecstatic.

“I started crying out of happiness,” Talwar said. “That was one of the best days of my color guard experience.”

Talwar decided that becoming an inspiring captain was her number-one priority. This year as a captain, Talwar is making an effort to make all members of the color guard feel as comfortable and supported as she felt as a freshman.

“It warms my heart when I help someone out and they seem to feel more comfortable afterwards,” Talwar said. “I want people to feel that they can come to me for anything, because that’s how I felt with my leadership team as an underclassman.”

Talwar’s efforts to improve her skills and create a supportive environment have been noticed by other members of the color guard community. Tseitlin mentions how her leadership and determination have not only inspired her teammates, but also instilled pride in herself.

“She’s someone that leads with kindness and cares a lot for other people, which I really value,” Tseitlin said. “Shagun works extremely hard, so it’s really validating for her to see her own growth.”

Talwar reflects on how she has changed as a person since entering high school, having become more secure, confident, and happy since she entered Stevenson’s doors as a freshman. Looking back on how she found her people and a purpose, she believes that finding an activity she loved and applying a strong sense of perseverance helped create an experience like hers.

“Find an activity that brings you joy,” Talwar said. “See what you love and then work on your skills in it. Then, everything will come into place for you in the future.”