Kendrick Bourne of New England Patriots addresses players at Oregon’s Les Schwab Bowl evaluation day: ‘Keep reaching for your goals’

Bourne’s life story is a fascinating one — and one from which all current high-schoolers can learn.

Organizers of Saturday’s Les Schwab Bowl evaluation day in Portland, Oregon, had a surprise guest for the players on hand: New England Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne. 

Bourne, a six-year NFL veteran, played in the 2013 Bowl after his senior year at Milwaukie High School before starring at Eastern Washington. But as he told the youngsters Saturday, he almost missed out on all of it by “doing the wrong things” during his first three years of high school. 

“My lifestyle didn’t line up with my goals,” Bourne said. “How can I go to college if I’m skipping school every day? … You gotta align your lifestyle to align with your goals that you want to do, if it’s being a doctor, if it’s being a football player, if it’s being a baseball player, whatever it is. That’s what I realized.” 

Bourne’s story about his unlikely journey to NFL stardom is a fascinating one — and one from which all current high-schoolers no doubt can learn. 

“Keep reaching for your goals,” Bourne told them. “Be around the right people, choose your crowd, because who you’re around is who you are. I’ve learned that a lot.”

Watch the video above to hear Bourne’s entire speech. 

Video by Ben Wilson; photo by Dan Brood 

Earlier:

Les Schwab Bowl’s inaugural ‘evaluation day’ shows continued growth of Oregon’s signature all-star football event

Watch: Players, coaches unpack first Les Schwab Bowl evaluation day — ‘a 2-hour learning experience’