Dreams are like stone by Alivia

Dreams are like stone by Alivia - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

Dreams are like stone, they’re pressured, crushed, and buried deep down until they become what they are finally meant to be. . . diamonds. In order for a dream to truly become what its meant to be, it must change. Change is precisely what happened to my dream of being the best soccer player ever. In the fifth grade, I was playing travel soccer for my local fútbol club. My coach was notorious within our soccer association for being rude and quite harsh. I was always up for a challenge so I welcomed his inflictions. I felt invincible to words or anything that could cause me emotional or physical damage. I was too tough for that. It didn’t matter what others said to me, “sticks and stones” was the motto that echoed in my mind. This simple phrase reminded me that sticks and stones could only cause pain, not words.
Mistakes I had made caused our team to get scored on during a match one evening. I felt my inner self-heat and soften with sadness and disappointment. My coach pulled me out of the match. He sat on the bench still as statue, staring forward, never making eye contact with me. I began to walk past him when he said, “Good goalkeepers make the saves they’re supposed to make, that was one of them. You should never have never started played soccer.” I instantly felt tears welling in my eyes; unable to fight the pain that I felt. All my emotions were boiling inside me as I felt my whole soccer career was slipping away from me. I felt I would never be able to be the collegiate athlete I aspired to be. My failure crushed my dreams.
After the game, I cried to my mother. She explained that the opinion of one person shouldn't stand in my way. I could be whatever I wanted as long as I set my mind to it. The softness I once felt inside me had hardened into determination. After speaking to her I realized my failure was a good thing. Failure brought out my competitive spirit and gave me a drive like no other to be the best at everything I do. It allows me to succeed at almost anything and will continue to drive me in the future. To be the best soccer player ever; that was my stone, my imperfect dream. Failure showed me my true diamond; to be the best me that I can be. I will be the best student, athlete, friend, and person that I can. My determination to succeed will make sure of it.