How My Parents Changed My Life Through Sports
Author: Ryan Yang | Category: Unkown category | Date: 01-17-2021
I have played sports ever since I started elementary school. I first played soccer at the age of 6, baseball at the age of 7, and basketball at the age of 10. My parents were very pleased when I began getting involved in these sports, especially as I was at a very young age when children typically are more interested in video games and technology. What is interesting is that it was my parents who signed me up for these sports, particularly soccer and baseball, though I at first refused to get involved. After the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, which I watched in South Korea with my family, my parents recognized my passion and interests in soccer, and although I initially did not want to play competitively and, in particular, meet other people my age, I came to love the sport and made new friendships that continue to this day. After signing up for soccer, my parents again recommended that I sign up for baseball, which I again refused to because I did not want to start a new sport. However, just like soccer, I became very passionate and, in fact, obsessed with baseball. Throughout my elementary school years, my favorite sport switched from soccer to baseball and vice versa practically every year. I did play middle school basketball, but after one year, I decided not to play as it was not the best experience. I also quit baseball that year, and since then, I have played soccer competitively with a local club team as well as for the high school varsity soccer team.
Similar to Franklin Foer’s parents, my parents hoped that I would be more active physically and socially. As a young child, I was a very shy and timid child who struggled to make friends, especially in English-speaking communities partly because of my weak English-speaking skills. Although part of the reason was that they recognized my love for soccer, I am sure that my parents also hoped that by getting involved, I would be able to meet new friends and learn to interact with people from various backgrounds. Reflecting on my years of playing sports, I definitely have felt the positive impact that my parents’ decision has had in my life as many of my current friends are directly connected to my involvement in these sports. I think another similar aspect that my beginnings of sports have to that of Foer’s is the cultural impact. Soccer and baseball hold a special place in the hearts of many Koreans, so to maintain some connection to the Korean culture, both my parents and I were probably more motivated to start getting involved in these sports. Thankfully, much of my passion for sports today is related to the Korean culture as I mainly follow South Korean athletes. In fact, I wake up every Saturday at 6:00 am just to watch one South Korean soccer star in the English Premier League, which is what many Koreans do for those competing abroad to cheer on their athletes. Overall, the experience of both building relationships and growing in the Korean culture through sports has strongly defined who I am today and the type of people I interact with in my daily life.
About: Ryan Yang
