William Mulina
Mr Mulina is an everyday hero at my school. Aside from being a superb World History teacher, his pride and joy is the infamous Band of Blue. Our band is full of kids with not so perfect lives. we come from a minority school and struggle with bullying and conformity. When I first joined the band I was shy and anti social. I had major family issues and I was really depressed. During my first year, he became more than a teacher. He was my friend, my coach, my dad, anything I needed he was. He taught me that life has its ups and down but its up to me if I letting downs keep me down. Through music I learned confidence and I learned that I really I did matter. In that year I was given a solo and I cried every single day in class. I was terrified to play a solo, scared that I would be judged like I have been my whole life. Mr. Mulina didn't let me quit. Every single day he made me practice. With his encouragement and patience, I learned that I am great and great at my instrument. I can do anything I put my mind to. A couple years later, I was posed with another grand obstacle. I, the small, timid, soft-spoken nobody wanted to be Drum Major. I wanted to be the leader of the organization that gave me my life back. I wanted to be just like Mr. Mulina and help others like me. I did not want the power I wanted the opportunity to do something greater than myself. Mr. Mulina trained me. He taught me how to speak up, how to solve problems, how to handle life. Thanks to him I am Drum Major and have been for two years now. It is the best decision I have ever made, and I couldn't have done it without his help. Not only has he helped me, but he helps the other 50 students in the band program, as well as those around school. His office is always open if you just want to talk. He teaches us that we are a family. We treat each other with respect, we respect our selves. We learn how to study, prioritize, and we learn great music in the process. Music is our way of expressing ourselves and escaping the problems of reality. He taught us what music could do. My band is small and small band don't do as much or be as successful as we are. We travel around to different competitions, march in parades, have jazz concerts, winter guard performances, we even won a marching band state title. Nothing is just handed to us. Mr. Mulina instills in us that you have to earn what you want in life, and only hard work pays off. We spend countless hours in the hot sun practicing each and everyday, but after we win we realize that it was worth it. We end every practice with a dismissal that spells out team:
Together
Everyone
Achieves
More
As a team we come together for a common purpose. We set aside all other problems and help our fellow brethren. We take pride in what we do, no matter what people say about us. We are family, and nothing can tear us apart!
Submitted by Anonymous
