Last Chance U star visits Starkville for book signing event
Netflix’s Last Chance U star Brittany Wagner was at Maroon & Company on Saturday for a book signing event to promote her new book, “Next Chance You: Tools, Tips, and Tough Love for Bringing Your A-game to Life.”
During her time as the athletic academic advisor for East Mississippi Community College, Wagner helped student athletes move beyond personal failure to find success and prepare themselves for life beyond the gridiron.
In her new book, Wagner tells her stories of making the most of every opportunity given to herself and hopes that readers will find inspiration, motivation, and genuine realness.
“I think the whole point in writing the book was just to inspire people to really work hard and put forth effort at their own life, to really put some intentional effort towards making their life the absolute best that they could,” said Wagner. “That was always what I was working towards with the athletes and working on a mindset shift that they weren’t on their last chance, that they had an opportunity to do better and be better every single day. That’s really what I want people to take away from this is to read the book, read the stories, and really understand and believe in their own power.”
Wagner lived here in Starkville for a period of time when she was attending Mississippi State, and she said any day she can come back to Starkville is a good day.
“Anytime I can come back to Starkville is a good thing, just driving into Starkville just puts a smile on my face. It’s where my daughter was born, it’s just a place that is very near and dear to my heart,” said Wagner. “To be here, whether it’s for a game or not, just to be in Starkville and around Mississippi State people, there’s just something really special about it.”
Before Last Chance U, Starkville resident Sarah Wadford, who grew up with Wagner, already knew the kind of person she was.
“Brittany has always been a really nice person to know anyway, and then when Last Chance U came about and she kind of became that breakout star, it was extra just to see someone who you grew up with basically become famous just for being a good person. I think it’s really awesome,” said Wadford. “There’s so
much publicity placed on the infamous and the bad nowadays, so to see somebody with that kind of positive interaction who has continued to be a good influence, it’s just been awesome to see.”
Wadford brought her seven-year-old son, Isaac, to the book signing on Saturday to meet her childhood friend. When her son reads the book, Wadford hopes he learns that he can be a positive influence on everyone he encounters.
“I hope he learns that you don’t have to be limited by what somebody tells you to do, but you can go beyond what you think you can do yourself to where you can be a positive influence. You can have that effect on people that if you did write a book, people would want to come out and see you,” Wadford said.
Wadford added that she hopes Wagner continues to do the great job she is doing, that people recognize her influence she has, and that she just goes as far as she can.