Thursday, November 16, 2006
Sometimes some people ask you what's your goal in life, what's your dream, and you really have no answer to that. You go to school and do up projects, worksheets, attend lessons which you like and dislike, sign up for special programmes for the sake of it.
You don't really know how it helps, but you just do it anyway. You trust that whatever the school is providing for you is invaluable in the future, and valuable learning experiences. Special programmes seem to be insights of the outside, doing research papers that mirror the world that you grow up in.
Gradually, some people may develop a passion for certain subjects and enjoy doing it. School becomes a purposeful place to be in then, since they enjoy learning, and know for sure what they learn is applicable to what they want to do. How about the other part of some people though. Trying the goshdarned hardest to concentrate in class on something they have no interest in for academic value, (i know it's old, that's not my point) meaning that knowledge becomes dead wood.
Whats the point of life really? I think it's to make yourself as happy as possible, make it as fulfilling and fruitful as possible. Does that mean you waste away at home, on the internet since it brings you happiness? Possibly, why not? Then comes the fulfilling part. Do you feel a sense of achievement at playing it? If you do, then its a great life to have, but then, can you sustain it?
At the end of it, you need a job no matter what. Education is the key to getting jobs, but if you don't enjoy the education, why would you enjoy the job education brings about. I want to be happy in life, having a job i enjoy. But that's not always possible, perhaps impossible to some.
And that's why it's a dream. What do you do about your dream then, thinking its impossible. Give up on it? Concentrate on being another worker who goes to work for the sake of money, not for happiness? I don't want to be like that. My dream, is another one of those things you think impossible, things which stupid people love to use to tease for the sake of attention. I ain't going to be put down simply because they tease.
I won't say my dream is unlikely to come true, because i never know till i try. The chance of it happening might be small, but the chance is there. It's up to me to work on it, to increase the percentage of it. Practice, get better, practice more, improve conistently, take advantage of what i still have. Youth.
What's my dream? To play for liverpool football club one day. Ridiculous, you might say, but i told you, its a dream. A dream i want to make into reality. I know where i stand, probably at the conference level of England's football community, the lowest rung, with many divisions separating it from the English Premier League. But liverpool have achieved their dream of the 5th European cup. When they won it, nobody gave them a chance except for the Kop. They labelled it as a dream,, the same dream i have now.
What do i have at my disposal which makes my dream all the more likely? What im going to say next is probably quite elitist, but it's what i honestly feel anyway. Most obviously, intelligence. It's an awkward truth that most of the better footballers in Singapore are youths who go to school for the sake of playing football rather than studying. Controversial, elitist, maybe, but it's the awkward truth and even if you disagree on the outside, deep inside, you know it's true.
I know for a fact, few years back there was i think only 2 Singaporeans on the Singapore team who graduated from University. There are always exceptions here and there, but i think what i have said is true for the most part of it.
So, intelligence, the ability to see chances opening up, to observe and scrutinize the opponent's movement, to anticipate whether the winger is feinting or really crossing the ball. The ability to learn the mechanics of football quickly and grasp it.
Next thing i have is youth. Youth meaning i have time to practice, practice, practice, and practice. Why do you think brazillians are so amazing at soccer? It's not because of the Brazillian genes that "suddenly" makes them exclusively so good, it's simply because soccer is their life. They train and touch the ball 24/7, football is their way out of poverty, hence they put in the effort to play, and that's what i'm going to do too.
Lastly, its natural ability. I don't claim that i'm a really super-talented player, but i honestly believe i have at least a shred of talent to make things happen, a shred of natural ability. This is all very opinionated and people may scream that i'm overestimating myself and maybe i am, but from what i see, given that the past and present people i have been playing with all have roughly the same amount of "playtime" with the ball, i think i'm one of the better players.
To hear that fans sing "You Will Never Walk Alone" in unison, to support their players and show their faith in them, that is beautiful. The incredible "give me the ball, i'll give you a goal" ability of Steven Gerrard, the camaraderie that always exists amongst liverpool players, you can feel it and see it. I don't think i've ever heard one player in Liverpool who talked bad about the club.
It's quite incredible really, hearing the supporters sing and chorus the song "You Will Never Walk Alone", whether winning or losing. 3-0 down to AC Milan at halftime, the fans continued their support, and if i imagine myself as a Liverpool player, i'd have to say The Kop are the greatest fans in the world. We came back to draw 3-3, then win in penalties, and i think a large part of that was due to the will to fight for the fans, to bring back the glory of the European Cup to Anfield.
As for now, i'm going to work on my dream by practicing whenever possible, drilling myself and enjoying it, because i know i enjoy seeing the improvements in my play.
And fight to realise that dream.
silverletal [Simple and Clean] 5:12 AM
