Character and leadership are essentials that were well-received by the boys’ and girls’ soccer players at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
On Tuesday, August 13, members of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School boys’ and girls’ soccer teams traded in a day during summer vacation and attended an event titled “Character Does Matter” (CDM) that was held at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater.
The Travis Manion Foundation, in conjunction with Johnson & Johnson, sponsored the event that was presented in order to share the importance of character-driven leadership.
According to Bridgewater-Raritan boys'’ soccer coach, Mark Heinbach, who was accompanied by Sean Casey, the high school’s girls' soccer coach, the players first heard an opening message from a United States Marine veteran on the importance of character and putting character-driven leadership into practice. Then students were divided into four groups and sent to different stations.
Heinbach reported that each station had a theme and an activity tied to that theme. Those themes were integrity, bravery, gratitude, and leadership. Each station was led by a CDM-trained mentor, and students were then paired with veterans from Johnson & Johnson as they worked through the station activity. In addition, the CDM mantra of "If not me, then who..." was revisited throughout the day as a reminder of the importance of character, and putting the interests of others before your own.
The experiences were well absorbed–and cherished–by the Bridgewater-Raritan players.
"The station today that discussed leadership opened a lot of people’s eyes to the fact that you can be a leader without needing a title of captain, or being a senior,” Andrew Childs, the senior captain of the boys’ soccer team. “The mentor at this station also talked about leadership in many different ways, and how leading can be silent, and be just as impactful. This also helped kids that are not loud and vocal, and it showed some of the quieter teammates of mine their role in leading."
"I was glad that the team and I were provided an opportunity like this to participate in,” Audrey Martinho, the senior captain of the girls’ soccer squad, added.. “All the stories about how Travis Manion lived his life, or even how he died really inspired not only me but a lot of kids on the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. We can use honesty and gratitude to grow closer as a team which will not only make us have a better bond, but that also will help us in the field because we will be more connected."
The Travis Manion Foundation was founded to honor 1stLt Travis Manion, USMC, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of his patrol in 2007. CDM strives to unite and strengthen communities by training, developing, and highlighting the role models that lead them. The foundation develops programs, training opportunities, and events designed to empower veterans and inspire them to pass on their values to the next generation and the community at large. The mantra "If not me, then who..." comes from something Travis said before his final deployment to Iraq.