BEVERLY, Mass. – Earlier this year (May 15), Endicott men's soccer student-athlete Jamie Becker (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) shadowed the New England Revolution's Social Media Team when the Revs hosted Chelsea F.C. in a friendly charity match to raise awareness and money for the "Final Whistle on Hate." During the match, Becker was able to contribute content for the Revolution's social media accounts and learn from Jeff Lemieux (Senior Staff Writer & Editor) and Elizabeth Pehota (Online Host) throughout the night.
Here's what Jamie had to say about his experience with the Revs, networking, and much more.
ECGULLS: How were you able to shadow the Revolution's Social Media Team?
BECKER: I pride myself a lot on my ability to network and connect with people on multiple levels. The opportunity came from a relationship I garnered while doing an event for @Tekksupport2, an Instagram channel Brandon Haughton (Hartford, Conn.) and I founded and created. I met multiple New England Revs representatives at the event and we hit it off! When it came down to it I was willing to put myself out there and they shot me back an e-mail the next day about shadowing the media team for a day! It was a dream come true.
ECGULLS: How did you earn their trust to work additional games, i.e., Chelsea and so on?
BECKER: I connected with multiple members of the Media Team at the Revs and they had nothing but words of encouragement and praise upon our first meeting. I wanted to impress them and thank them for the opportunity to shadow them by attending the Chelsea vs Revs "Final Whistle on Hate" days later and I posted some content for them through Tekksupport2 to show my support and share with our audience the importance of combating anti-Semitism and spreading a positive message through soccer.
ECGULLS: Tell us what your experience has been like so far with them.
BECKER: I would say that our relationship is certainly growing and I would love nothing more than to fulfill my senior year internship with them. They are extremely welcoming and share the same passion for both soccer and media as I do. It was a privilege to shadow and meet so many of the key members of the Revs organization.
(Jeff Lemieux [left], Jamie Becker, [middle], and Elizabeth Pehota [right] pose for a photo at Gilette Stadium).
ECGULLS: How did your love for social media start?
BECKER: My love for social media began when Brandon Haughton and I decided to showcase some of our trick shots on our Instagram channel. Over time, the channel began to grow and we added several different aspects to it and eventually created a YouTube channel as well. Once we gained a following, companies would reach out to us and we would complete videos for them free of charge. As time passed, our passion only grew and the support has been truly amazing in the time since we began.
ECGULLS: You're a psychology major with a minor in communication. Tell us more about how that connects with your social media endeavors.
BECKER: I chose Psychology as my major and Communication as my minor because I am fascinated with the why and how people do what they do. I have always been eager to understand what drives others and at Endicott, I have learned this and more. Understanding human behavior is very complex and when you pair it with marketing strategies it allows you to connect a person with a product. I am very confident that I now have a better understanding of marketing potential events or products to people whether it be in the sporting or business arena thanks to my studies.
ECGULLS: What's your career goal(s)?
BECKER: My career goal is to work for a sports marketing company or as a marketing manager for a sports team (preferably soccer).
ECGULLS: Why did you choose Endicott?
BECKER: I chose Endicott because I wanted to play soccer and study in an environment similar to that of my high school. When I arrived at Endicott in 2017-18 I saw little to no difference between my previous team and I got along with everyone on our soccer team. My decision was made the day after I came for my official visit with head coach Joe Calabrese to attend Endicott College.
ECGULLS: Without Endicott _______ (fill in the blank)
BECKER: I wouldn't have met my teammates, classmates, coaches, and teachers who have inspired me to get me where I am today.
ECGULLS: What are your goals/thoughts on the soccer season next year and your experiences so far with the program?
BECKER: I wouldn't be where I am today without the team that I have been surrounded by the past two years. We pride our team on holding one another accountable, valuing family, and having a competitive edge in every sense of the word. Cal [Coach Calabrese] has ingrained in us the idea of "leaving a legacy" and he's taught us the importance of having one another's back. I was fortunate enough to play a role in our 2018 season where we won the CCC Championship and entered the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history in what was only my freshman year. I genuinely believe that we are one of the best teams in the nation and that we are capable of winning more than a conference championship during my time here. The fall season cannot come soon enough!
MORE ON THE REVOLUTION/CHELSEA F.C. "FINAL WHISTLE ON HATE" MATCH
Both clubs joined forces to raise awareness and money -- an estimated $4 million -- in the battle against hate and prejudice. The idea for the match was developed by club owners Roman Abramovich (Chelsea) and Robert Kraft in light of a global rise in anti-Semitic activity. All proceeds from the match were donated to 15 organizations dedicated to combatting antisemitism and discrimination. In addition, Abramovich and Kraft each donated $1 million in support of the cause.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)