Maya stood nervously on the soccer field, gripping her new cleats. It was her first practice with the team, and she had never played soccer before. The other kids were already passing the ball back and forth like they had been playing forever.
"Don't worry," said Coach Martinez, smiling warmly. "Everyone starts somewhere. Just try your best and have fun." Maya nodded, but her stomach still felt like butterflies were dancing inside.
During the first drill, Maya kicked the ball too hard and it flew way over the goal. Some kids giggled, and Maya's face turned red. She wanted to run away and hide. But then Sarah, one of the team's best players, came over.
"Hey, that happened to me when I first started!" Sarah said. "Want me to show you how to aim better?" Maya looked up in surprise. She hadn't expected anyone to be so kind.
Sarah spent the next ten minutes showing Maya how to position her foot and where to look when kicking. By the end of practice, Maya had made three goals. She wasn't the best player, but she was getting better. Most importantly, she had made a new friend.
As Maya walked off the field, she realized that trying something new wasn't so scary after all. With practice and a little help from friends, she could learn anything.