When I was young...

When I was 9 or 10 years old, I had no confidence. I was very shy. It was difficult for me to make friends. It wasn't easy for me to speak to people. I was very quiet.

There was a football in my father's shop. It was a convenience store, but very different to convenience stores in Japan. Anyway, I saw that ball many times. One day, I asked if I could have it. My dad said "yes". So, I took it to the empty car park behind our house and started playing.

I played football almost every day after that. I practiced and practiced. Alone. It was fun to kick the ball at the wall. It was fun for me to imagine scoring goals.

Eventually, I started to play with other people at the park. It was great for us to play big games of football. It was easier for me to make friends. Football helped me become confident. I am not shy anymore.

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(have/has/had) confidence: 自身（がある）

shy: はずかしい

make friends: 友達を作る

speak to people: 人と話す

quiet: 静か

football: サッカーボール

different: 違う

anyway: とにかく

took (takeの過去形): 取った

car park: 駐車所

behind: の後ろ

at the wall: 壁に向かって

imagine: 想像する

started to play: し始めた

easier: もっと簡単

become: になる

not... anymore: もう... ない