LEICESTER, Mass. — A group of Leicester High School students are reflecting on the trip of a lifetime as they return from performing in the Rose Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. 

Russell Baker, Ella Smith, Trevor Moorghan, Dakota Sinkevich and Sean Alves were among dozens of Massachusetts students performing as the New England Honor Band, one of 24 marching bands involved with the parade.

"You get to think about, 'Oh, I just did that,'" Baker said. "And everybody else has the same expression on their faces."

"I just remember turning the corner and there's more people than I've ever seen in my life," Smith said. "I just felt like, 'Wow, this is way bigger than I imagined it.'"

The students were accompanied by Alexis Phillips and Kristina Looney, Leicester High School's music director and Leicester Middle School's band director. 

Both instructors said they were proud of their students for pulling off the feat and keeping their composure with hundreds of thousands of people watching. 

"I think the biggest thing that I watched them get out of this experience was that hard work can put you somewhere, and it means something," Looney said.  "We've been rebuilding our programs since COVID happened, and giving them this opportunity is really seeing them grow and progress as better musicians and stronger humans."

It was nearly six miles of flashing lights, huge crowds and heavy instruments, and although the experience certainly came with some nerves, the students won't forget the feeling any time soon. 

"It was my first parade ever marching," Moorghan said. "They told us how many people were expected to be there, and you're like, 'Oh, that's just a number,' but once you're there, you really see."

"Starting off in such a small band and culminating into such a huge moment and large parade that everyone knows, it's just absolutely amazing," Sinkevich said.

Local students from Auburn, Millbury, David Prouty High School, Burncoat High School and Leominster also marched in the parade.