You can always tell what's on a person's heart and in his or her soul by their actions. Mikayla Millisock is a freshman baton twirler with the Kutztown University Marching Unit (KUMU).

"During my senior year in high school, I was back and forth about whether to twirl in college or just get accustomed to college life," said Millisock. "At the last minute, I really realized I wanted to twirl. Now, I'm glad I did. I'm having so much fun.

"When I started in the marching unit, it got me in the loop," continued Millisock. "I had friends even before I got to meet people in my classes. For me, I couldn't let it go."

For Millisock, a 2026 graduate of Conestoga Valley High School, baton twirling has been both a continuing pursuit of a passion and a vehicle for passage into the next phase of her life. The personal growth has been purely organic.

"I'm actually having a good time," said Millisock. "I'm enjoying college. The marching band is a fun thing to do. I'm doing well in my classes, and I'm making friends. I'm being here for myself."

Millisock is one of four twirlers on the Marching Bears' majorette line. Her role is to exude spirit, move to the music and inspire those around her, including KUMU's engaged audiences.

"If you're looking at the band, I'm in the front on the right side," said Millisock. "We have a set routine we learn, and it's the same every year. We're twirling all the time, and we try to show some sass. My goal when I'm performing is to make sure other people are having fun as well."

KUMU performs about eight times in the fall, including at all of Kutztown's home football games. At each home contest, Millisock and the band perform before kickoff, at halftime and following the conclusion of the game.

"When we make our show, we choreograph to the music," said Millisock. "It helps me get into my role. They're all really fun songs to move to. The band is amazing, and I love twirling to music. It gives us room to grow and be our own characters.

"For me personally, I see everyone there," continued Millisock. "I try to find a face in the stands that I know. I know everyone is there to watch. I want to give them the biggest personality I can and project as much as I can. Being on the field is like an adrenaline rush."

During KUMU shows, Millisock is performing hundreds of movements, twirls, throws and baton tricks of varying degrees of difficulty. It's a routine that requires athleticism, hand-eye coordination, repetition and focus.

"It's not something you think about," said Millisock. "Once you start the routine, you just do it. We throw a lot. We toss and exchange with one another. My favorite tricks are the bigger tricks. In one of them, there are two batons and they are both in the air at one time. There's another one where I'm juggling three batons at one time.

"I think something people don't know about twirling is that it's very demanding," she added. "It takes a lot of stamina and endurance. It's a lot harder than it looks. I put in the work, and I put in the hours. It takes a lot of time and a lot of repetition, and now I think I'm a pretty good twirler."

Millisock has been twirling a baton since she was 9, and she developed her skills at Ab-Salute Twirling in Brownstown. At Conestoga Valley High School, she was the band's feature twirler for five years and served as its drum major during her junior and senior years.

"There are some things to look forward to," said Millisock. "In college, everybody gets an equal chance at what they get. I definitely would like to be the feature twirler next year."