The morning sun glints off the new turf at Momence High School's football field, the same field where Brendan Willard spent countless hours as the team's nose guard. Standing at the center of the action, right where the ball is snapped, Brendan helped lead his team to an impressive 8-2 season during his senior year.

"It was nice. A lot better. A lot more fun," Brendan says about playing on the school's new turf field. "Our cleats weren't getting as muddy anymore, so that was perfect."

But today, as graduation approaches, Brendan stands at the threshold of a different kind of field—one that promises to transform his passion for hard work into a sustainable future. While many of his peers are college-bound, Brendan has charted his own course with characteristic directness.

"I was considering college football," he explains, weighing the options that faced him as a senior athlete, "but I didn't want to be paying back college loans until I was 40 or 50."

Instead, Brendan is heading to Tinley Park for an apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). His decision reflects a practicality that runs deep in his character.

"I want to work," he states with refreshing candor about his career choice. "I'm ready to build a stable future for myself. That's what I'm going to do—work hard and create security."

The clarity in Brendan's vision extends to his understanding of the path ahead. He can outline the progression with confidence: "It's about five years as an apprentice. Then you become a journeyman. And then you take it from there, become a master, things of that sort."

Born in Chicago, Brendan's journey eventually brought him to Momence High School, where he found his place on the football team and in the weight room. Football has been central to his high school experience, and he joined Momence's program specifically because of its strong tradition in the sport.

Throughout his high school years, Brendan found mentors who made a difference. When asked about teachers who enhanced his experience, he doesn't hesitate: "Mr. Toberman." Though never having taken a class with him, Brendan values their connection through strength training: "He's my weightlifting coach... He's a cool guy amongst many."

He also mentions Mr. Fahey, revealing an unexpected passion. "That's one of my favorite subjects. I like knowing things," Brendan says about history. "About the future, the past. I just like knowing things. I'm not as strong in math, so I've got to be good at something else."

In the weight room, where Brendan spends much of his time, the lessons go beyond building physical strength. "That's what we like doing. That's all fun," he says about his friends at school. These sessions have instilled discipline that will serve him well in his apprenticeship and beyond.

While Brendan doesn't plan to stay in Momence after graduation, his goals remain grounded: "I want to take care of myself and my family. I just want to live comfortably."

As for his preference within the electrical field, Brendan leans toward commercial work. When told about an industrial electrician making $46 an hour, his eyes light up at the possibilities ahead. "That's cool," he acknowledges, seeing the potential in his chosen path.

The practical value of skilled trade work isn't lost on this young man. In a world where many students feel pressured to pursue traditional four-year degrees regardless of the cost, Brendan's clear-eyed assessment of his options demonstrates a maturity beyond his years.

As our conversation concludes and Brendan heads to the weight room for his photo, there's a sense that wherever his path leads, he'll approach it with the same straightforward determination he's shown on the football field and in planning his future. No unnecessary complications, no pretense—just a clear-eyed view of what needs to be done.

"Life takes interesting turns," I observe.

"It does," Brendan agrees.

I continue, "Sometimes you're right where you were meant to be."

"Yeah."

"Whatever it is, what do we do? We make the most of what we got, right?" I add.

"Yeah."

And that, perhaps, is Brendan Willard's greatest strength: the ability to see the field as it is—uncomplicated, make his call, and play with everything he's got.