One Senior. One Beat. One Last Season
There are seniors…and then there’s the senior.
When Vacaville High School’s drumline takes the field this year, one student will be carrying more than just a bass drum. He’ll be carrying the tradition forward, too.
Meet Alejandro Vasquez Pimentel, the drumline’s only senior and the student his teammates chose to lead them this season.
No pressure, right?
What’s even more impressive is that just three years ago, Alejandro had never picked up a pair of drumsticks. He joined the drumline as a sophomore after a few friends encouraged him to give it a shot, despite having zero musical experience.
"My friends my freshman year...told me to join the drumline," Alejandro said with a grin. "I signed up, auditioned, and somehow made it."
Somehow.
Turns out “somehow” looked a lot like showing up, asking questions, practicing, and leaning on the upperclassmen who took the time to help him learn.
"I've got friends and seniors from past years that have been mentors to me and helped me pick it up," he said.
Now, he’s paying that kindness forward.
With a drumline made up almost entirely of underclassmen, Alejandro has become the person they can count on, the steady beat, the encouraging voice, and the kind of leader who isn't interested in the spotlight as much as making sure everyone else succeeds alongside him.
That's exactly what drumline director Ryan Williams has watched unfold over the past three years.
"He's been one of the most dependable and reliable students we've seen on the line," Williams said. "He always shows up and is always willing to do extra."
Those qualities didn't go unnoticed by his teammates, who voted Alejandro to serve as captain.
"We've seen him grow up so much, and now he's a senior, and it is his show," Williams said. "We're all really proud of Alex. It's really exciting to see him perform as captain."
If you ask Alejandro what drumline has meant to him, though, his answer isn't about performances, halftime shows or football games.
It's about people.
"Being on drumline means that I always got some friends around and a second family to go to if I ever need anything," he said.
That sense of belonging is something he hopes other students find, too.
His advice is simple: if a friend invites you to try something new, say yes.
"If you have even one friend on something, don't be afraid to join it or try something out," Alejandro said. "You've got four years here—what's one year?"
Honestly, Alejandro’s story isn't just about becoming a drumline captain. It’s about what happens when you take a chance on yourself, let people believe in you before you fully believe in yourself, and then turn around and do the same for someone else.
We're incredibly proud of the leader Alejandro has become and grateful for the example he's setting for the students marching beside him. The drumline will miss him when he graduates, but something tells us this won't be the last time we hear his name.
His future is bright! And, if the past three years are any indication, he’s just getting started.