Field Commander 2004   My name is Ashley, I’m 17, and currently reside in Cross Lanes with my mother, Pam, my father, Randy, and my Yorkshire Terrier puppy, Keira. I am a senior at Nitro, an honor student, and am proud to be a 4th year band member. I’ve played clarinet since 7th grade, and have played it for 3 years in the Nitro band. I was also in AFJROTC for three years, giving me the leadership ability that I have now. In JROTC, I was a member of the Drill Team and Color Guard where I commanded many teams at competitions. Band is my number one love, but other then that, I enjoy computers/the internet, reading, writing, playing with my puppy, listening to music of all types, watching movies, hanging out with friends, and hanging out with my sister/best friend, Amber. Band to me is much more then a school program. It’s a way of life. I love music whether it’s playing it, listening to it, or writing it. Band is a way of expressing myself in ways that I couldn’t have without it. It lets me express my love for music, my love for having fun with a wonderful group of people, my love for the clarinet ( and conducting ), and it lets me express who I am; a musician. I’ve wanted to be Field Commander since I was in middle school. I went to one of the Nitro home games and saw the half time show and my eyes stayed on the field commanders. It looked like something that was challenging, fun, and something I’d love to do. I fell in love with the art of conducting. Since then I’ve wanted to be field commander so bad. I’d sit at home conducting to the radio (poorly, might I add). Then when I got into high school and saw a field commander up close, it made me want it more. I watched the field commander constantly, trying to learn anything I could. I tried out for field commander at the end of my sophomore year, but didn’t make it. Not making it then gave me the drive to better myself and make it this year, which obviously, I did. Although it wasn’t easy. I was up against some very good people. I practiced hard, tried my best, and was proud of what I had done. Bein! g field commander is honestly a dream come true for me. After I graduate this coming May, I plan to attend Marshall University, majoring in Music Education. Someday I wish to teach my love of music to others. I want to teach either a middle or high school band. I’d prefer to teach at a high school level, mainly because of marching band.