After fifteen and a half years of living , not only I have realized the reality of life but I have also evolved to be a different person. This happened through all my successes and failures throughout my soccer career. At age nine, I was just starting to learn soccer. With no experience but full of excitement, I decided to join a soccer team. At my first practice I could already feel that the other players had acknowledged how poor my soccer skills were. As a typical nine year old it was difficult to handle the feeling of disappointment and despair. After a couple of practices I had decided to change my mind on soccer and quit. All my confidence was completely ravaged. Thankfully, my father had a different mindset. He noticed the frustration I was feeling and gave me a speech on my capabilities on soccer and most importantly he emphasized to never give up, to set goals and not stop until they are achieved.
Needless to say, after a couple of rough practices I started to get used to all the new soccer training. I learned by the coach that I was a fast paced learner for the drills and exercise routines. My physical appearance was rapidly changing into a positive way. The confidence that I once had, seemed as it was slowly coming back to me. Then one day, as I was watching a soccer game on television, I noticed a player that seemed so fast and strong. Despite him being 5’7, a height not ideal for soccer, he was capable of so much. He fascinated me from the moment I saw him play. His name was Lionel Messi. He instantly became a role model. He sparked a motivation in me to keep improving. I still kept going to practice with the same team for three and a half years, on the same old dry field with patches of grass missing in the center of the field. The coach always bringing his bright orange cones and us standing on the sideline, ready for whatever he said. This had become a repetitive routine, until my father told me he found a new team for me. I accepted to begin this new chapter. This could have possibly been the best decision I could have made.
I went to one of their practices and the atmosphere was less tense with a more challenging training. At training one of the teammate’s first words to me were, “you’re going to struggle, like all of us did, but don’t give up on it.” I listened. He was one of the best players I’ve met. He didn’t seem to struggle at all at practices, while I felt as just a mere beginner again. Around half a year later of continued training, I noticed something unimaginable. I became one of the most improved player on the team, something I had strived for months. Now, I continue to strive to improve in the aspects where I feel I am weak in.
It is clear to me now that not everything in life will be easy nor is it impossible. I learned that perseverance, focus and wanting to achieve are the keys to reach my goals. The challenges that I went through in soccer, and which I’m sure that I will continue to encounter more struggles as I continue to progress in soccer and in education, it taught me that life will most definitely have its negatives. Thankfully I was able to surpass all the circumstances I have been through. I know with the right mindset and the right goals I can too surpass the struggles that may be headed my way in present, future and in my favorite sport soccer.
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