Sometimes Childhood Dreams Don't Come True And That's Okay | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

Sometimes Childhood Dreams Don't Come True And That's Okay

Just because I had to give up on some of my dreams doesn't mean that I failed myself or my family.

221
Sometimes Childhood Dreams Don't Come True And That's Okay
Pexels

When you're little, the possibilities in life seem endless.

Dreams are big and hopes are high, and then you get into your late teens and early twenties and realize that the dreams you had when you were a little girl didn't come true. It's easy to feel disappointed and down about it, but sometimes dreams don't come true for reasons bigger and better than we can even understand.

Take me for example – I was dead set on playing college soccer. My whole life was spent traveling across the country to soccer tournaments and showcases and college camps, and I was actually really talented. Not only did I want to play soccer in college, I wanted to play Division 1 soccer.

Now that I have successfully completed my first full year without playing soccer year-round, I can say that even though it hurts me to think that I may have let my younger self down by not reaching my goal of playing Division 1 soccer, I know that I have gotten to experience so many other opportunities because of it.

In all reality, I actually could have played D1 soccer, but not at a school that I wanted to go to. Ideally, I would have wanted to come to Michigan State – my dream school – to play, but that wasn't an option for me. Although I was recruited by other D1 schools, Michigan State was the school I grew up loving and being so passionate about and I knew that I had to give up on either my dream of playing Division 1 soccer, or going to Michigan State.

Sometimes I think about what it would be like if I would have decided to stick to playing soccer and gone to a D1 school I could have played at. Sometimes I feel like I let my parents down by not playing soccer in college because both of my brothers played Division 1 baseball and it makes me feel like I wasted all of their time and money by not reaching the same level as my brothers. It makes me sad to know that I was good enough but never got the chance to prove that I was, but then I think of all that I have gained from that same decision.

The people I have met and the opportunities I have been given at Michigan State are endless. If I wouldn't have gone here, my life would be entirely different, and I love the way it has turned out for me. I now get to play on the club soccer team, which is basically just the fun part about soccer without the workload of being a varsity student-athlete, while still being competitive and not having to hang up my cleats completely just yet.

I know on some level I'll always be jealous of the student-athletes at Michigan State who get to continue to play the sport they love for the most amazing school. I also know though that I have gained so much just by being at Michigan State, and as much as I regret my decision sometimes, at the end of the day I realize that there is no other school I would rather go to and there are no other athletic teams that I would rather cheer for every day.

Just because I gave up on one dream doesn't mean that I failed myself or anyone else; it just means that God had a different plan for me and I can honestly say that I wouldn't trade my Spartan experience for anything.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

14298
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2839
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1711
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments