Jenna Schmidt interviews North Pocono senior Drew Collins in this week's Kids Korner!
By Jenna Schmidt
Special to The Villager
October 16, 2014
Drew Collins is a senior at North Pocono High School who used his senior project as an opportunity to prevent further concussions (severe injuries to the head) on our community’s soccer teams.
As a member of the North Pocono High School girls’ soccer team, I received an anti-concussion headband thanks to Drew’s project, and I wear it when playing in games. It provides safety to me and all of the other high school players.
I recently interviewed Drew and asked him a few things about his project.
Q. How long have you been playing soccer?
A. I have been playing soccer since I was seven years old and started in U8.
Q. How long have you been on the North Pocono High School boys’ soccer team?
A. I have played all four years of high school.
Q. What is your senior project?
A. My senior project was to raise money to buy anti-concussion headbands and give them to the high school boys’ and girls’ soccer teams and also the youth soccer teams. I bought the ForceField brand headband.
North Pocono senior Drew Collins raises money to
purchase anti-concussion headbands for the district's
soccer teams (and anyone else for that matter) as
part of his senior project.
Q. What inspired you to choose that as your senior project?
A. I was inspired to do this senior project because I have suffered from two season-ending concussions. I wanted to stop these injuries, starting with the older kids, to show the younger kids that it is important to protect your head.
Q. How did you go about achieving the goal of your project?
A. At first I went around with jars collecting donations that helped to buy a few headbands. I also used a website that allowed for donations. I raised over $1,300, and my senior project is still ongoing if someone wanted to donate or buy a headband for their child.
Q. With personal experience, how effective are the concussion headbands when worn?
A. The ForceField brand headbands I bought offer a 360 degree protection around the head which, in my case, is super effective in preventing any more injuries to my head.
Q. Do you think concussion headbands should be mandatory for all high school soccer players?
A. I absolutely believe that all athletes should be wearing them, and not only in soccer. The ForceField headbands can be worn for other sports as well.
Q. What are your plans post-graduation?
A. I plan on attending college to become an athletic trainer with a minor in game design/creation.
Thank you, Drew, for answering my questions and being concerned with the health of North Pocono’s young athletes! Anyone wishing to purchase a ForceField headband or make a donation to this senior project, please contact Drew at 570-815-7884.
Until next time!
Jenna Schmidt is a ninth grade student at North Pocono High School. Please e-mail any ideas for future articles to jennaschmidt16@gmail.com.