I was a mid-second to top of third band kid (out of four, sometimes five) that wound up becoming a band director.

TBF, it's hard to crack the top band's section when they were an Honor Band one year of middle school, they all stayed in band, and more than one of them made all-state more than once.

But I know your point. I had a kid that was the absolute worst trumpet player in my entire program. I switched her to tuba of all things and she blossomed - became two-year drum major, and is now finishing up a music degree herself.