As a high level athlete, playing soccer at a national level, as well as an academic scholar, taking classes two years above grade level, the monotony of training, stress, and studying often exhausts the passion I have for what I do. Sometimes, after a long day of school, three hours of practice doesn’t sound very appealing. Reversely, after three hours of training, an additional multiple hours of homework tends to repeatedly seem impossible. Whether it be completing my weekend homework in the airport, half asleep after a long weekend of games, or finding a way to fit in a five mile run at five o’clock in the morning before school so that I have more time in the afternoon to spend on other things I need to get done, finding balance within the chaos of my life has been a vital component in the maintaining of my lifestyle. Although, it is still not that simple; not only do I have to worry about managing to get through school and soccer, but I am expected to succeed and thrive in both aspects. The pressure of performing at such high levels often inflicts a sense of defeat upon me. When the pressure of always being “the best” overrides the ability of one to enjoy their childhood, it seems as if the easiest escape route is to quit. On multiple occasions, I have found myself sitting on the floor of my room, in the dark, pondering what my life would be like without the challenges I take in it; the surplus of time I would have to spend hanging out with friends or doing other “teenage things” that I seemingly miss all of. I repeatedly feel the heaviness of constant competition and rivalry upon my chest, as if I am trapped beneath a million concrete blocks. In my life, it is never about having fun or enjoying the moment - rather, it is concentrated on one word, seven letters, and two syllables: winning.

At the end of this past summer, I was given the opportunity to volunteer at the Detroit Special Olympics for soccer. Essentially, it is a day dedicated to allowing mentally disabled individuals of both genders and all ages the ability to come together and do something that their unfortunate situation has incapacitated them from regularly doing. There was a turnout of over six hundred participants, who all belonged to a team of about ten. These teams played against each other, hopeful to win, but still proud and happy as ever to even play, regardless of the outcomes. As a referee and scorekeeper, I was there to oversee each soccer game and make it as real as possible. I encouraged the players to keep trying, despite any failures, motivating them and saying “Way to go! Great Job!”. Looking back, I see this event as something by which I was privileged enough to have been able to take part in. I went into it thinking that I would be impacting the lives of the participants, when, in reality, I was the one who was affected. Over the course of seven hours, my heart was touched and my eyes opened to a world I didn’t know existed; or, rather, didn’t remember. There was never a moment throughout the entirety of the day that any player or volunteer alike was not smiling; not only as a result of winning, or scoring a goal, but due to the elation associated with playing the game they love. I witnessed the high-fiving of teammates, and even opponents, over the simplest of things; successfully passing the ball, scoring a goal, or kicking the ball up the field, no matter if it was to someone’s feet or out of bounds. The honest, genuine, innocent joy on the faces of everyone involved enveloped me in a state of mixed emotions - happiness, astoundment, and awe.

Too often, I take for granted the gifts I have been given; things as simple as a brain that fully functions and a body that is able to perform to its fullest capacity. For too long, I have been blinded by the brick wall of competition and pressure before me. Taking part in such a touching experience, I have come to realize that life is not measured by the achievements one accomplishes, but instead, by the special moments that are shared with people you learn from. Of course, I continue to strive for progress and victory, seeking a means of reward for all of the hard work and sacrifice my family and I have put into reaching my ultimate goals. However, I now have also dedicated myself to enjoying life for what it is in every aspect, and appreciating the simple things I once disregarded. I plan to continue to engage in service opportunities like this, with hopes that I will someday influence the life of someone just as I had been, unaware that the power of a smile was strong enough to change my life.