The Pursuit of Mastery

As my success grew, I found myself thinking more and more about what came next. Should I stick with chess? Or should I branch out? The idea of trying something new had been lingering in the back of my mind, as now my surroundings aren't limiting me and now that I had some financial stability-a bit of fame, I figured it might be time to explore.

-Since i crave to learn new things that intrigued me-

I considered my options—cooking, writing, maybe even modeling. People had started offering me modeling opportunities, and at first, I was hesitant. Could I really pull it off? But then, the thought of learning something completely new pushed me forward. Why not? I had the time, the resources, and the drive.

-So, I decided to try modeling-

The first event was more overwhelming than I expected, but I was determined. As I prepared for my introduction, I reminded myself that I had to be perfect. I couldn't afford to mess this up.

"Two words to describe yourself," the agent instructed, "then your name and where you live."

I nodded, my mind racing. Stay calm. Stay collected. Don't mess this up.

"Uhm... reserved.. and..faltered. My voice cracked, and I cursed inwardly. No, not like this. Not now.

I gathered myself and continued. "My name is—" My voice cracked again. I could feel the sweat starting to form at the back of my neck.

It wasn't supposed to be this hard. Chess had come naturally to me, a game I'd mastered with ease over years of practice. Why was this so different? I wasn't going to let it get to me. I couldn't afford to fail.

When it was time to pose, I focused all my energy on doing it perfectly. But as I moved, I felt the familiar tremor in my legs and cheeks. No. I couldn't allow myself to tremble. I had to be in control. Every inch of my body needed to reflect the confidence I was supposed to exude.

The agency staff noticed my unease but, to my surprise, they were kind and encouraging. "You're too stiff. Try to relax," one of them said, smiling. "It's okay to breathe. You're doing great."

I nodded, but inside I was far from satisfied. I knew I had a long way to go. But I wasn't going to quit. I would practice until I could control every movement, every word, until everything felt as natural as chess had. I wasn't going to settle for being mediocre. Not in anything I did.

Even after I left the event, I wasn't happy with my performance. I stayed up late, practicing my introduction in front of the mirror, refining my poses, making sure my legs and cheeks didn't shake.

-I will get it right-

Because that was my goal: Learn with passion whether it was chess, modeling, or anything else I chose to pursue, I know i will not be the best at everything. That's just how humans are but just a thought of being able to play any games-having some knowledge of every fields- intrigued me a lot.

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