"Dreams, determination, futility: I was a third grader in elementary school and had a dream for the first time in my life. At that time, I kicked the soccer ball with my friends for 4 to 5 hours a day and played with it every day as if we were eating. Among all of us, I was particularly good at kicking the ball. So, I told my parents that I wanted to become a soccer player, but my parents disagreed. But at that time, soccer gave me tremendous happiness and fun. At least, that was a part where my parents agreed. At that time, I decided to pursue my passion for soccer. And I trained alone for 5 hours a day. After three years of training on my own, I finally participated in a youth soccer competition for the first time in my life. I've been working hard so far. Every day, imagining hoisting a shiny trophy above my head. A whistle honked in the stadium, and my heart was pumping. Time stopped, the crowds disappeared, and my team, the ball, and I was the only ones left in that big, hollow stadium. After the competition ended, our team finished in 3rd place out of 10 teams. I felt very empty; it was like I had an open hole in my heart. My efforts for three years were not accepted the way I wanted. Soccer became very meaningless after that match. Every day felt monotonous."
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