Today I wanted to take the time to do something that I don't normally do: Thank a specific person for something they have done for not only me, but for countless others. This person's name is David Fullmer and he has been and is one of the best influences I have had in my life and today he moved to California to be the new marching band director at Fresno State University.
I first met this man when I was in 7th grade at our end of the year concert at Centennial. This concert was also going to be Ms. Henderson's last one, so it was a special night for us. When the 8th grade band was about to play "Flight of the Thunderbird", Dr. Fullmer was invited to come up and play the trumpet solo. It was one of the most amazing songs I had heard in my life at the time and I fell in love with it, but what caught my eye was how much Ms. Henderson admired Dr. Fullmer and cried because she would be leaving.
On April 16, 2012, an announcement was made over the intercom that said "All band students have a meeting today at lunch in the band room" I thought "Wait, so no band council today?" As soon as 6th period ended, I rushed over to the band room and saw Kim Davidson and her daughter and Hilary and Jasmine Fullmer standing there. I immediately started thinking of reasons why they would be there, but shunned out the thoughts of him leaving, cause there's no way he could! Well as soon as the band room started to fill, he came out of his office and quieted us down. He started talking about the next day's concert and why it was important. "It's the Senior's last one on the Timpview stage" "It's the last one for the concert band" he nodded and agreed to other reasons why it was important and then said "Yes, yes. All wonderful reasons why, but do you know why else it will be special?" we all got quiet and stared at him as we feared the worst. "Tomorrow will also be my last concert at Timpview." at that moment I broke into tears along with many others and then listened to the rest of what he had to say. "I've accepted a job at Fresno State University as the new marching band director" and then he continued to talk about how hard the decision was and how he didn't think he'd be able to love those Fresno kids more than us. At the end of lunch, he told us "now everyone stand up, find a friend and give them a hug because we all need that right now." and we all stood up and hugged and cried together. I could not believe he was really going. A couple of my friends didn't want to go to class after receiving that news (and I didn't have a class) so we decided to take a walk and reminisce on memories outside. We walked through the marching field at Edgemont, went to the swing set and finally decided that we needed some ice cream to feel better.
The next day, I had the privilege of going with our band president to buy flowers for the concert and it indeed was a very special concert. The whole band knew this was his last concert and we were unified in every group and gave our best.
Some of the things that he's taught me over the years:
-There is nothing more wonderful than a grateful teenager
-It's NEVER too late to be the way you wish you could have been
-Hotel staff can learn to like having a big group of teenagers visit their hotel if they are always in stealth mode
-Always check your pockets before you jump off a boat deck and plunge into the ocean
- History is important and needs to be retold
-Music is a language that can communicate with every emotion there is
-You should never be rotten to your mother
-Don't trust Bao Ha with your cell phone
-High Yield, Low Maintenance
And many other things
Besides these things, Dr. Fullmer was also able to provide me with feelings that can't be written down on paper. Things that can only be felt from the moment that they were first experienced, but are never forgotten.
-The feeling you get when you've given your best for the last Marching Band competition and are walking off the field
-Seeing Pearl Harbor for the very first time after preparing for a year to go
-Playing "America the Beautiful" in the Punchbowl Cemetery
-Singing Eternal Father Strong to Save in the shrine of the USS Arizona Memorial
-Playing "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" for the last time on the Timpview stage
-Breaking the name game all time record to a time that will never be achieved again: 0:01.22
And many other things as well.
This man will never know exactly how much he changed not only my life, but hundreds of other students among the years. It's rare to find a person like that in your life, but if you find one, let them teach you. Let them help you become a better person and mold you into an adult.
Fresno doesn't know how lucky they are to be getting him, but we do. One of my favorite quotes from the Sandlot is "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die." Dr. Fullmer is a Timpview legend and will always be remembered.
Thank you for your lessons DF, they helped us all and will continue to help us in our lives.
All I can say now is: Go Bulldogs!
