and board members called her in so they could all watch the first episode together before it aired. It only took her five minutes to realize it was going to be big. “In that moment, I knew my whole life was about to change,” Wagner says. She binge-watched the first season while on vacation with family, surprised to see herself on the screen so much. “I did not expect to be a star,” she says. “I expected it to be more about the football and that no one would care about me.” After Wagner traveled to Los Angeles for the Last Chance U release, she gained over 5,000 Twitter followers. “My friend was telling me to Google myself,” she says. “And then I saw all the articles saying, ‘Who is Brittany Wagner?’” Now Wagner has been interviewed by The Dan Patrick Show, New York Times, ABC’s Nightline, and more. She says at one point she was doing five interviews a day, and someone had to screen her calls. “I would never have dreamed this,” says Wagner. “Things don’t always go the way you want them to. But if you just hold on, it will work out.” After filming Season 2 of Last Chance U, Wagner felt it was time to leave EMCC. “I knew I had done all I could do there,” she says. “I had been given this platform and a bigger responsibility and felt I had to do something else.” Wagner had enough speaking engagements lined up to keep her busy, but wasn’t sure what the next step would be. One day, a man stopped her at a coffee shop in Birmingham and told her she should start her own business. “Doing what?” she asked. “What you do,” the man said. “Encouraging students.” The man happened to be a small business consultant, and he and Wagner immediately began brainstorming what would become 10 Thousand Pencils. “It’s taken on a life of its own,” says Wagner. Now she’s traveling all over the country, helping schools at the elementary level and above better prepare their students for success. She trains teachers and administration and works with at-risk athletes, one-on-one. “I’m getting to see places I never would have,” she says. “I’m getting to see what our public education system is like and what I need to focus on moving forward.” Wagner has been to Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, and beyond, and says she really wants to try to work with Jackson and Meridian public schools soon. She says although Mississippi education gets a bad reputation, she sees other schools around the country struggling with the same problems. “If we can focus on elementary students and solve issues at that level, we can eliminate future problems,” says Wagner. She stresses the impact that placing a child in a more stable environment can have and recounts success stories of children who just needed someone to give them an opportunity and believe in them. Fans will be able to see Wagner and 10KP in action in the third season of Last Chance U, which will catch up with some former EMCC players and with Wagner. “I’m excited for people to see these stories,” she says. Wagner says it’s fun to see the reactions of students who recognize her from the show. Some even have her signature taped to their mirrors as motivation to go to school. For Wagner, who grew up in Clinton, that motivation was Attaché. “Attaché was my validation and a huge confidence booster,” she says. “It changed my life by giving me something to be good at. Everyone needs that.” Wagner, who emceed the Attaché Alumni Dinner Theater this year, says she still tells herself the advice that David Fehr gave her when she was in school: Don’t be sorry; be good. “I never doubted that Mr. and Mrs. Fehr cared about me, even when they were tough,” she says. “They were my number one influencers at that time.” She also says that Clinton Public Schools is the “heartbeat” of Clinton. “I love this little town,” she adds. “I will forever be grateful for growing up here.” Wagner now has a weekly, motivational podcast available on iTunes called “Sharpen Up with Brittany Wagner.” She says there are plenty of people just like her (teachers, advisors, counselors) who are also encouraging students but are just not on TV. Her goal is to be a source of inspiration for them. “I’ve always had a dream to make a difference,” Wagner says. “And I’m proud of the impact I’ve had on people.” Wagner’s office at EMCC was decorated with bulletin boards, filled with pictures of her and former Lions football players who had gone on to play for D1 schools or the NFL. The boards became a strong motivator for the players who visited her office every day. “They would just stare at it and tell me that they would be on the board one day,” says Wagner, who still has those boards at her house. Athletes have come out of the woodwork to ask if they made it on her board and to tell her thank you for helping them get to where they are today. “It’s always great to see the fruits of your labor and to know you had a hand in their success,” she says. Wagner graduated from Clinton High School in 1996. She earned her undergraduate degree in sport communication and her master’s in sport administration from Mississippi State University. She has over 15 years of experience as an athletic academic counselor at the NCAA and NJCAA levels. She and her daughter Kennedy now live in Birmingham, Alabama. _____________________________________________________ Visit brittanywagner.com to learn more about her and 10 Thousands Pencils. 34 • May 2018
More than 30 practices. Quick appointments. One number: 844-MSMERIT. Because there’s Merit in convenient care. With more than 30 primary care and specialty practices in four counties across the Jackson and Vicksburg metropolitan areas, Merit Health Medical Group providers offer quality care for your family with your schedule in mind. From sore throats and fever to annual wellness visits and more specialized care, we’ve got you covered. To see all locations and specialties, please visit MyMeritDoctor.com Call 844-MSMERIT for a provider near you. Walk-ins are welcome at all primary care practices, or ask about same-day and next-day appointments. Hometown Clinton • 35