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April is Second Chance Month, a time to acknowledge, uplift, and restore those who have paid their dues and are seeking to rebuild their lives. But today, I want to make it personal. I want to ask you something that might make you uncomfortable.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?

Don’t rush past it. Sit with it. That moment. That decision. That choice you don’t talk about—the one you hope never gets brought up in a room full of people who admire you. We all have something, even if we’ve buried it deep. A lie. A betrayal. A selfish act. A mistake that, if it had gone a little differently, could’ve shattered everything.

Now imagine this: That one thing becomes the headline of your life. Imagine every time someone says your name, they whisper that worst moment right behind it. You lose your job. Your friends back away. You’re not trusted, no matter how much time has passed. You’re never allowed to grow beyond that moment. It becomes your label. Your identity. Your scarlet letter.

That’s what millions of justice-impacted individuals face every single day.

You see, for them, a second chance isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. And yet, it’s the one thing they’re often denied—not because they haven’t changed, but because society hasn’t let them.

I’m not asking you to ignore consequences. I’m asking you to see the whole person. To remember that people are more than the sum of their worst mistakes. That redemption is real. That change is possible. And that sometimes, the people who have been broken the most are the ones who rebuild with the most strength, compassion, and purpose.

This month isn’t just about giving others a second chance. It’s about realizing that you could have been the one needing it. And maybe, in some way, you still do.

So as we recognize Second Chance Month, let’s make it more than a social media post. Let’s make it a commitment to forgive, to understand, and to believe that none of us should be reduced to our darkest hour.

Because if we were all defined by the worst thing we’ve ever done, none of us would stand a chance.