Joel Penton, a FCA motivational speaker and former Ohio State football player, brought his "Stand Your Ground" tour to area schools.  He spoke about the importance of setting goals and sticking with them...he told students to "Stand Your Ground!"

Joel Penton’s convictions earned him a scholarship to Ohio State University.  At OSU, Penton was a member of three Big Ten Championship teams and a member of the 2002  National Championship Team.  He was also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and as a senior at OSU was awarded the Danny Wuerffel Trophy, known as the Humanitarian Heisman.

Penton, along with Ryan Holliday, travels across the state and country speaking to high school and middle school students about the choices they make and presenting his life as an example of where commitment to being your best can lead youth.  Ryan plays keyboard and sings at these events.

"Commitment is critical. Accomplishing anything significant takes a lot of work." He said making a commitment, standing your ground and keeping your goals, can set you apart.

When Joel was 9 years old he was introduced to football and immediately fell in love. When he was in junior high school he committed to being the best football player possible. He did as many push-ups and sit-ups as he could stand before bed every night and surrounded himself with a group of friends equally committed.  They became "my very good friends ... my best friends." The group of friends noticed how older students who were gifted athletically or academically often wasted their talents by getting involved with alcohol and drugs. The guys in his group made the decision not to get involved with drugs and alcohol. But eventually, everyone in the group began drinking, except Joel.  Bitterness and hard feelings set in.  At school, Penton also discovered his one time friends turned their backs on him and ostracized him. They even booed when he was crowned king at a winter dance.

The hurt remained for a while, but Penton said he eventually made new friends. The focus of Penton’s talk to the students was about staying committed.   Eventually Jim Tressel came to Joel's school and recruited him to play football at Ohio State and receive a scholarship.   His hard work paid off.

"It's difficult to stand your ground" Penton said, "but if students can stick with their commitments, they can achieve things beyond their wildest dreams."

For Penton, keeping his promises is one of the most important things in his life.

“How grateful I am,” he told the students. “Not only for making a commitment but for keeping my commitments.”