Soccer <\/p>\n
To my 10-year-old self: What a ride you\u2019re in for.<\/p>\n
Growing up playing soccer in the backyard, Timmy will basically be your first goalie coach. He\u2019ll take shots on you, teach you how to time your jumps, and test you like only a big brother could.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll play other sports, but are naturally drawn to soccer. You and Timmy will try to create plays that you see on TV, always try to beat each other, and have fun while doing it \u2013 even all those times when you come inside dirty, and Mom makes you take a shower before eating dinner.<\/p>\n
Very soon, you\u2019ll be sitting on the couch, eating pizza from Carmine\u2019s, and watching Tim Howard play at the 2009 Confederations Cup on TV. Then, a few years later, you\u2019ll be at your physical therapist\u2019s office rehabbing your shoulder, and see Tim Howard\u2019s historical performance at the 2014 World Cup<\/a> against Belgium. Those moments will spark a dream for you, and the memories of those moments will give you the motivation to make that dream come alive.<\/p>\n Getting there won\u2019t be easy \u2013 plenty of ups and downs, downs and ups.<\/p>\n There will be early-morning lifts and practices before high school. You\u2019ll travel for soccer and have to miss many important milestones. When you\u2019re at Harvard, you\u2019ll forgo finishing your degree on time to start your professional career at 20. You\u2019ll deal with failures and lessons along the way, and your body will hurt more than you can imagine.<\/p>\n But it will all be worth it. Trust me.<\/p>\n