WOODBURY — lead·er – the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.
For the Chiefs that sounds a lot like one student: R.J. Barksdale.
From catching a game-winning touchdown to working long hours to cheering on his team in the dugout, Barksdale becomes a leader no matter what setting he is in.
“I take a leadership role because I like to win,” says Barksdale. “It just fits me and the person I am in most aspects.”
These aspects for Barksdale revolve around sports and work.
“I work at a golf course in Southbury called Silo Point,” says Barksdale. “It’s really cool. It’s what I wanna do in the future. I like working there cause it’s just relaxing, you know, I like being outside and it’s one of my favorite things to do.”
Barksdale also finds time to relax in his sports, football and baseball.
“I play outfield, so it’s like I kind of get to be in my own space and do my own thing,” says Barksdale. “Baseball is more relaxing for me and less stressful than football is.”
But relaxing isn’t the only thing Barksdale does on the baseball field. Teammate Brady Herman and others see Barksdale as a leader.
“I think everyone looks at R.J. as a leader on the baseball field,” says Herman. “Especially playing center field, that’s like the captain of the outfield, so I think both right fielders and left fielders look for him for advice”
Even coaches see Barksdale as a leader too. Baseball assistant coach Kyle Brennan sees Barksdale as a leader because of his work ethic.
“R.J. is a good captain and leader because no one outworks him,” says Brennan. “Good leaders lead through action and worth ethic. If other people on a team see a leader putting in 100% effort consistently, then they realize that there is no excuse for themselves to do any less.”
Nonnewaug athletic trainer Sean McGee also feels that Barksdale is a standout leader.
“He leads by example; that’s what’s great about R.J.,” says McGee. “He doesn’t yell, scream, tell kids what to do, he actually does it , which is a very big difference than most kids and which a lot of kids, I think should learn from him.”
Barksdale’s work ethic doesn’t stop when he’s playing sports.
“R.J. is a great addition to my class,” says Nonnewaug ag mechanics teacher Andrew Zielinski. “He works hard and enjoys working on various projects in the shop. He also brings along a great sense of humor that makes teaching him enjoyable. R.J. is a positive influence on the students around him. He works well with his peers and is always willing to lend a helping hand to them if they need it.”
This hard work will help Barksdale in the future, with his aspirations for turf management.
“I plan on either doing online or going to a turf management school or to get my degree for turf management,” says Barksdale, “and then getting a job at a golf course that I wanna work at. And eventually become a superintendent of a golf course and take care of a nice golf course somewhere.”
Like taking care of a golf course, Barksdale always makes an effort to take care of his teammates.
“He’s very supportive and positive, he knows what to say at the right times,” says Herman. “Even at halftime, he’s always on us, he likes to speak to us. Like at Stratford, he was able to definitely keep some heads held high and have some hope, which eventually worked because we won.”
