The biggest truth about life is that you don’t often get second chances. But consider Emma Sears the chosen one. As a teenager, she made one of the boldest decisions by stepping away from the professional path for six months. Of course, the NWSL starlet eventually returned, but it certainly wasn’t an easy journey.

Before we get into why exactly Sears decided to take such a step and still get lucky, just consider it was also something that she had to do for her own sake. Realization, if you will. Sometimes, people have to step back and go in another direction, only to see themselves end up getting into the same situation as before and turn out more successful than ever. We may have heard this one before as a memoir.

But as the Ohio State forward returned to continue with her professional journey at the collegiate level, did she face any particular challenge? “I would say the physical part was probably the most difficult,” shared Sears during an interview with host Sam Mewis on the Women’s Game podcast.

“Soccer shape is so different than running and doing regular fitness. So adjusting back to that and it came over time, I think it’s kind of like riding a bike a little bit. I mean, I wasn’t not playing for a super extended amount of time but I was just giddy to be back on the field,” added the 23-year-old forward, who was selected in the second round of the NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville.

Agreed. Going to the gym after a long break and expecting to hit your previous PRs wouldn’t be realistic. But for Sears, it wasn’t just about the physical aspect; the thought of missing out on her college team and the fear of losing something great pushed her to make a U-turn on her decision.

“I missed my teammates. I loved the camaraderie that came and I love playing at Ohio State. So to have the opportunity to go back for one more season and then for that to have gotten me to where I am now, I’m just super grateful,” added the winger, who made 26 appearances for the current NWSL side in her rookie season.

Yes, we get it—Sears was fortunate to not only make a swift return but also emerge as a professional player. In fact, it’s almost like hitting the jackpot. Not only did she enjoy a successful domestic campaign with Louisville, but the Ohio native also earned her first USWNT call-up from Emma Hayes. That’s not all—she showcased her talent by coming off the bench and delivering both an assist and a goal within 20 minutes during the team’s 3-1 victory over Iceland on October 27.

Hearing this might leave anyone with one lingering question: if she had such immense potential, why did she decide to temporarily step away in the first place?

Here’s why NWSL starlet Emma Sears decided to take a 6-month break

In the same podcast segment, Emma Sears recalled that she had a ‘great‘ 4 years at Ohio State and she couldn’t be more ‘thankful‘ for the experience. Interestingly, around the fourth year of college, talks surfaced about the forward potentially entering the draft after her senior season. However, even though it wasn’t the fact she didn’t want to go into it, Sears explained she felt like “being pulled in a different direction” regarding her future career, as she was studying nutrition.

That somehow forced Emma to hang up the cleats for about 6 months. Having kept her studies throughout the spring semester, she was planning to graduate. Later saw her attend an Ohio preseason game in late July, where her coaches noticed her, suggesting she talk to the head coach about returning for her fifth year. After two days of consideration, Sears nervously approached the head coach, who offered her a spot on the team after a lengthy conversation.

Of course, the decision came with challenges, as Sears hadn’t played soccer or trained at an elite level for six months. But talk about determination as she completed the necessary protocols and joined the preseason, making the most of her return. The rest, as you know, is history. Looking back, Sears remains grateful for the unexpected turn in her journey.