High school students from Brockton, New Bedford and Fall River recently visited Bridgewater State University to take part in the annual Light Foundation Leadership Conference: Ignite Your Light.
Retired New England Patriot Matt Light founded the Light Foundation to help motivate youth and assist them in reaching their highest potential.
The football star assured students it’s okay to fail; that failure is key to finding success.
“I’m the biggest loser out there,” he joked. “I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten something right before doing it wrong many, many times. It’s good to keep that in mind.”
Mr. Light also discussed the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people; those who hold you accountable and push you to be your best. For him, one of those people is former teammate and retired New England Patriot Troy Brown, who also spoke at the conference.
“The way you carry yourself, the way you work, the way you treat other people – somebody is always watching you,” Mr. Brown advised.
The three-time Super Bowl champion also shared how he overcame his humble beginnings; from growing up in rural South Carolina without indoor plumbing and being told he was too small to play football. Mr. Brown said hard work and believing in himself led him to find success.
“Get your mind right and believe you can,” he said.
President Frederick W. Clark Jr., who grew up in Brockton, encouraged students to leave the conference with a stronger sense of self.
“It begins with you believing in yourself,” he said. “If you never give up on your dreams, you will achieve them; it happens every year here at BSU and in your high schools.”