"Emmanual Guillory's a drum major for the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band."

Those are words this cadet loves to hear. They're also validation of the work he's put in to have those words said about him.

If you've ever been impressed with the band's work on the field, let Guillory show you how it gets done on paper. The intricacies sketched out across the ink-drawn football field are complicated to most any eye. But everyone in the band has to know their route across the gridiron.

To watch Guillory explain their marches is like asking Coach Fran to go over the football team's playbook. But Guillory's aspirations have always been towards music.

"I've always wanted to be drum major since Day 1, since I ever joined the Aggie Band," Guillory said. "I was a drum major in high school, so it's just something I've always wanted to do."

You probably can't tell by looking at his tryout for drum major that joining the Corps wasn't always high on Guillory's list. After spending the night with the Corps as a high school junior, he wasn't really inclined to become a cadet. But those thoughts quickly changed, and he ended up joining.

"For some reason, I did," he said. "But it's been a blessing since I've been here. I've learned so much, and now, everyday, I realize this is why I did it.

"When I had a structured life, I did better, and I knew that, going into the Corps, I would have a structured life."

You also probably couldn't tell by talking to Guillory that he's just the second African American drum major in the band's history.

"Whenever I'm doing things in life, I don't think about race," he said. "I just think about, 'Well, this person worked hard. They earned it.'"

Guillory's a very active cadet and student. Commitment runs through his veins.

"I like to take on a lot of responsibilities, and I like to meet those requirements," he said. "When somebody tells me to do something, I do it."

In addition to earning his spot in the band, Guillory's also part of exclusive company: The Ross Volunteers.

"When you can be a part of that, the oldest organization on campus, something that started when the campus was first built, it's completely amazing," Guillory beamed.

So as a part of what may be the two most-known entities in A&M's Corps, it's no surprise that Guillory's taken a shine to the group he once didn't want to be a part of, but now couldn't have lived without.

"If you leave the Corps, and you're not better than you were when you came, then there's a problem," he said.

"If you want to get a little glimpse of what it's like to go through a few hard times and overcome, to know that you can make it if you put your mind to it, join the Corps of Cadets. Go to Texas A&M."

You can find out more about Emmanual Guillory at the official Corps of Cadets website.