Life Skills - Character Does Matter
At Robyne’s Nest, we believe that preparing students for life after high school means more than grades and test scores. It also means helping them develop the character, confidence, and leadership skills they need to make sound decisions, build healthy relationships, and navigate real-world challenges.
That’s why we’re excited to share one of our new Life Skills series with a powerful kickoff session focused on character and leadership.
Bringing Character to Life in the Classroom
Recently, our students had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Charles Cunha, in collaboration with the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), through the Character Does Matter (CDM) program.
Rather than talking about character in abstract terms, Dr. Cunha invited students to think about what it looks like in everyday life—how it shows up in the choices they make, the way they treat others, and the goals they set for their futures.
Students discussed questions like:
What kind of person do I want to be?
How do my choices reflect my values?
How can I show up for my friends, family, and community?
The room quickly shifted from a lecture to a conversation, with students sharing honest reflections and insights about who they are and who they’re becoming.
What Is the Character Does Matter Program?
Character Does Matter, powered by UA Freedom, is the Travis Manion Foundation's hallmark youth mentorship program. Led by veterans and families of the fallen, the program uses a strengths-based, Positive Psychology approach to help young people understand how character shapes their lives.
Through engaging presentations, interactive activities, group discussions, and small-group mentoring, CDM helps students:
Recognize their individual strengths
Understand how character influences their decisions and relationships
See themselves as leaders—in the classroom, at home, and in the community
For many of our students, it was their first time learning about character from veterans and Gold Star families who have lived out courage, integrity, and service in profound ways.
Students Discover Their Strengths
One of the most powerful moments of the session came when students were asked to identify and share their own character strengths.
Using simple, accessible language, they named qualities like kindness, perseverance, honesty, courage, and responsibility. Then they talked about how those strengths show up in their daily lives—helping a friend, pushing through a tough assignment, or choosing to do the right thing even when it’s hard.
For students who don’t always get told what they’re good at, this kind of affirmation can be life-changing.
The Start of an Ongoing Life Skills Journey
This session is just a part of the ongoing Life Skills series at Robyne’s Nest.
Throughout the series, students will explore topics like:
Character and integrity
Leadership and teamwork
Personal responsibility and decision-making
Goal-setting and planning for the future
Each session is designed to be practical, interactive, and directly connected to the real situations students face every day. With partners like the Travis Manion Foundation and caring adults like Dr. Cunha, we’re building a foundation that will support our students well beyond the classroom.
How You Can Support This Work
Programs like Character Does Matter are only possible because of our community's generosity.
If you believe character education matters as much as we do, here are a few ways you can help:
Give: Help fund Life Skills programming so more students can benefit from mentorship and character education.
Partner: If you represent a business, school, or community organization, we’d love to explore partnership opportunities that support local students.
Share: Spread the word about Robyne’s Nest and the impact of programs like this by sharing this story with your network.
Learn more about supporting or partnering with Robyne’s Nest.
Together, we can ensure local students not only graduate, but step into adulthood with the character, confidence, and tools they need to thrive.
