At Virginia State University’s homecoming matchup against Livingstone College, one of the band’s standout figures was far younger than anyone might have expected. At just 10 years old, Richmond native Aleem “The Dream” Saunders took the field dressed in all white, moving alongside VSU’s marching band as a drum major-in-training. What began as a childhood fascination with rhythm, sparked by drumming on water buckets as a toddler, has grown into a passion that brought him to the heart of a college football tradition.

For Aleem, the experience was more than a moment in the spotlight. It was an early opportunity to witness the precision, leadership and dedication it takes to lead a collegiate marching band.

“The story starts when I was a baby,” Aleem told The Root, recalling how he and his brother used household items to make music. While his twin eventually gravitated toward football, Aleem stuck with music, nurturing a passion that would lead him to the college marching band experience he had long imagined.

His mother, Chante Washington, helped make that dream a reality with a surprise opportunity to experience Virginia State’s band up close. “I know they say you’re never supposed to spoil a child, but it’s okay in my book,” she told us.

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Aleem already had experience working with the band at Highland Springs High School. But a surprise chance to march at VSU marked his first time joining a college band.

“It’s a dream,” he said. “I just feel so great to be here.”

As an honorary member of VSU’s marching band, Aleem has been learning from the experienced performers around him, including new moves and conducting techniques. He is also learning about the discipline that comes with the role. One lesson? Drop a mace, and you could find yourself doing push-ups.

Although he loves marching and keeping time, Aleem’s ambitions extend far beyond the field.

“My goal is to get good grades in school and get a scholarship,” he said.

For Aleem’s mother, watching her son pursue his passion has been a source of pride. She describes him as an “outgoing” and “determined” child who commits fully to whatever he sets his mind to.

“Once he wants to do something, he sticks with it, and he goes hard on it,” Washington said. “He’s not a quitter.”

Washington told us the journey has been made easier by a community that continues to show up for Aleem. Supporters have offered encouragement and found positive ways to guide him, even when he makes mistakes. VSU’s drum major coordinator, Maurice Bowles, also helped create Aleem’s marching-band look for homecoming.

That support is a reminder for Washington that raising a child with big dreams is rarely a solo effort.

“It’s such a blessing to be around people that feed into your children, that are just positive with your children,” she said.

Homecoming might be over at VSU, but Aleem is focused on taking every opportunity to improve. With his mother and community cheering him on, Aleem “The Dream” is turning childhood imagination into a goal he can work toward, one step, one beat and one marching season at a time.

“All I can say is that this is the beginning,” Washington added. “This is the beginning. I see great things happening to all of my children.”