Embracing Second Chances: a lesson on never giving up from Will Howard and The Buckeyes!

“You don’t get a lot of second chances in life, and God’s blessed us with one, so we’ve got to make sure we take advantage of it.” - Will Howard, Buckeyes QB.

If you know me, you know that I love nothing more than watching The Ohio State play football every year. It’s a far cry from the early 2000s when my lack of knowledge and understanding left me wondering why on earth people loved the game so much with all the stopping and starting! Years later, I’ve learned that it’s not just a game of four quarters; what truly brings this game alive is the palpable passion of the fans yelling in the stands and the determination of each player striving to lead their team to victory.

So in October 2024, as I watched in disbelief while the seconds on the clock slipped away and with them a missed opportunity to win the game, my heart sank. Frustration, anger, disappointment, and thoughts of “What were you thinking?” ran rampant through my mind. Yet, the reality was that whether it was one point or a thousand, the game was lost, and nothing would change that. However, my emotions paled in comparison to those of the quarterback, whose decision haunted his nightmares for weeks, with a play reel stuck on repeat adding to his misery.

At this point, especially if you’re not a sports fan, you might be wondering why I’m even sharing all this. If that’s the case, stay with me! You see, life has a way of knocking us down, causing our shattered dreams to evaporate into thin air. We can find ourselves in a deep hole, wondering how we even fell into that abyss and struggle to see how we’ll ever find a way back out. As we sit there, we are forced to make a decision: do we remain stuck in our despair, or do we use the situation as a pivotal force to find a way out?

It would have been easy for Will Howard to let that game lead to the unraveling of his season and that of his team. It would have been easy to stay mired in guilt and allow the ‘what ifs’ to torment his mind. But instead, Will returned to his training center, made a phone call to his mom, and, with his team and faith on board, used that moment as a springboard to help define the remainder of his season and that of his team.

Life is hard. Period. Things happen, and invariably we don’t get those second chances that fairy tales are made of. Sure, victory for the Buckeyes yesterday was ours; will they continue to move forward and win the National Championship? I hope so! However, regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, Will Howard knows that his second chance is something he did not take for granted, and he can now continue to move forward with the freedom of turning that Saturday in October into a distant memory.

Today is a new day. Ultimately, YOU get to choose. So the only question that remains is this: are you going to remain stuck in the memories and allow the guilt to hold you hostage in the pit of despair, or are you going to use the ‘what ifs’ to propel you forward on a new path of hope? The reality is that you can let go of past mistakes to pursue your hopes and dreams in order to build the life you truly deserve. With Will Howard at the helm, The Ohio State Buckeyes are poised for a thrilling run toward the National Championship and their journey is a true testament to the power of second chances and the relentless pursuit of greatness.

Your story is no different! The only question still unanswered is which path are you going to choose?