Practice before perfect

The moment the ball left my foot I knew it would be going into the top corner. I watched the ball sail through the air like a jet at full speed. The fans in the stadium were getting ready to stand up because I wasn’t the only one who knew that ball was about to hit the back of the net. Just as the ball was rocketing past the goalie, my eyes snapped open.

It may have been a dream, but it’s a dream that occurs often. The dream of being a professional soccer player is important to me. It reminds me how glorious it must feel to score a goal in front of thousands of fans, but I also realize that it takes hard work. You may have talent, but you can’t just rock up to practice expecting your big chance to come. Hard work always beats talent. My passion for becoming a soccer player is strong, and I believe that if I put my mind to it, I can do anything to achieve this goal.

It may sound obvious, and you’ve heard it a hundred times, but practice does make perfect. I try to improve my soccer skills every day. To me soccer is fun, and when I practice I enjoy it. I don’t have to force myself to do it. It’s like an instinct knocking on my brain telling me to kick a ball around.

Soccer isn’t just about your physical attributes though. It’s about your mentality. As Italian soccer legend Andrea Pirlo once said, “Soccer is played with your brain; your feet are just your tools.” I completely understand what Andrea means. I try to work hard every day to improve my education and ensure I have a growth mindset both in the classroom and on the field.

It doesn’t have to be soccer that you work hard for. That’s my passion, but if you want to achieve in life you will have to be determined to work harder than anybody, and your chance may come.

Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to [email protected]. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.