National Top 8 Led by Sincerity Rather Than Talent: The Story of My Third-Year Middle School Daughter

If I had had talent from the beginning—
this story would surely never have been born.
I am not tall.

I do not have any outstanding abilities compared to others.
I was not a player who stood out in matches.
Even so,

I started volleyball in the third grade of elementary school,
stood at the national tournament as captain in the sixth grade,
and led the team to the top 8.
This is not a "story of talent."

It is a story of sincerity.
—

She

arrived earlier than anyone else,
stayed later than anyone else,
and practiced the basics more than anyone else.
There is no flashiness.

There are no shortcuts.
Just,

piling up "what needs to be done today"
one by one.
She

never betrayed that, every single day.
—

"There are more painful times than fun ones."

I am sure that was the case.

Even so,

she did not complain in front of others.
She never took out her desire to run away on anyone else.
But—

At night.
After turning off the lights in her room.
We know that she was alone,
crying with her voice stifled.
The tears she shed in a place where no one could see

made her strong.
—

In middle school,

the friends she had fought alongside went on to powerhouse schools.
Even so,

"I want to play volleyball with my seniors,"
with just that thought, she chose a nearby middle school.
After that,

the club was abolished due to a lack of members.
Normally,

this is an event that would break anyone's heart.
Even so,

she did not let go of volleyball.
—

The coach who taught her during her elementary school days

started a new club team.
A start from zero.

No track record, no environment, nothing.
Even so,

she stood on the team as captain once again,
led her teammates for two, three years,
and participated in the national tournament as a club team.
More than the results,

the path taken to get there
is more precious than anything.
—

This time

has become a "treasure" that will never disappear
for us as parents as well.
Thinking we were the ones teaching,

it was always us
who were being taught.
—

How many people's hearts

you have moved.
That

cannot be measured by numbers or grades.
But certainly,

there are people who looked at you
and moved forward.
—

Now, you are

standing at a crossroads in life.
You can choose any high school.

The right answer can only be known later.
There is only one thing

that will not change.
Wherever you go, you will not run away.

With just that,

life will surely never betray you.
—

If this writing

can support "one more step"
for someone who is suffering right now,
there is no greater joy than that.
Thank you so much

for reading until the end.