Sometimes people don’t realize the leadership skills they have or the impact they can make until later in life. For one student, some of the low points he experienced may have been exactly what forged his abilities as a leader.
Clifford Kindred, a sophomore business administration major, is the team captain and alumni coordinator for the UNM men’s rugby team. Kindred said he moved to Albuquerque from Colorado in 2009 and was excited to play football and start school.
Along the way, Kindred said, he started experimenting with drugs and going down the wrong path.
“I started getting introduced to people that really did not have my best interests in mind,” Kindred said. "Everybody at La Cueva (high school) probably remembers me as being a stoner, and that’s something that I’m not proud of."
Kindred said he continued to deteriorate and his personality eroded away. He was having a hard time focusing, continued to be surrounded by negative influences and even found himself in dangerous or life-threatening situations, he said.
It wasn’t until he discovered rugby that he found his way to the right path, he said.
“My friend dragged me out to rugby practice,” Kindred said. "It saved my life in more ways than one."
Kindred said things really started changing for him at that point, and the change has been permanent. He said he likes that, even at the young age of 19, he is an example for people and a leader of men.
Walker Yates, a former classmate, was the one who introduced Kindred to the game of rugby. He said he met Kindred while playing football in high school, and he remembers Kindred being a bit wild, but not believing he actually was.
Kindred was involved with many types of people trying to figure out where he fit in, but Yates could tell that wasn’t his true personality, he said.
“I could tell right away Cliff was a kind-hearted guy,” Yates said. “I don’t know if it was rugby that changed things, but he started hanging out with a different group of people and reconnected with family. He stopped trying to impress every person and started being the true Cliff.”
Yates, who is one year older than Kindred, said he wasn’t surprised to find out Kindred was named a team captain as a sophomore. He said once Kindred’s true self was freed, the qualities he always possessed started making a positive impact. His athletic abilities, coupled with his passion and dedication, started to cast his role as a leader, he said.
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“We had about 15 seniors on our team and he took over that role (instead),” Yates said. "He led by his effort and would always do whatever he could to help out the team."
Kindred is no longer stuffed into a certain mold, he said.
Tom Goslau, the head coach of the UNM men’s Lobo rugby team, had coached Kindred at La Cueva High School. Goslau said he’s seen major changes in Kindred.
“He really has a sense of direction (and) a lot of maturity," Goslau said. "He’s one of our club leaders as a captain (and) he does so much to help the club overall. Rugby has given him some structure and he has goals in sight that just help him live a better life overall."
Robert Maler is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.
