The Journey - Part 1..The Beginning, #1

As a twelve-year-old, my future is defined by others. In school, failure is villainized, and excellence is rewarded. I am told by others what I should be in life based on my grades. Oh, yah and dreaming is highly discouraged because it's not realistic. So now I'm confused. I was also told as a younger child if I worked hard, I could achieve anything, and the sky is the limit, so never look back, always look forward. I was never a great student in school but always a dreamer.
At five years old, for the first time, I knew I wanted to play soccer professionally, and nothing was going to stop me.