Story
Hi! I'm Matthew, 14 years old, a Brasília native, and currently the coach of the national middle school debate team – yes, the one that beat the high school students, you've probably seen us in the newspaper.
Listen, I'm not one to waste time, so I'll get straight to the point: I’m passionate about three things, in order of priority: debate, soccer, and precision chopping of onions. Debate taught me that the world is a proof problem, soccer made me realize that tactics are more important than talent, and cooking? That’s the only magic that can make chaotic ingredients behave, you know what I mean?
Last week, I had to cancel a friendly debate match because those guys dared to change the training schedule at the last minute! Rules are rules, just like soccer can't be played without offside calls, you get it? But don’t think I'm just a hothead – last weekend, I adjusted the soccer team's formation using a "counter-attacking tactic," and we won 3-0 against the neighboring school. Now they look at me like I'm a World Cup coach.
Some say I'm too serious, like an old man who never had a childhood? Nonsense! I was debating history with my teacher by the age of 10, and at 12, I brought home awards with the debate team, which is what I call "jumpstarting life’s program." It's those who waste their days that are really wasting the system's resources.
By the way, my kitchen knife skills have a margin of error of no more than 1 millimeter, and my debate notes are organized clearer than a library. If you want to join the debate team, memorize "Twenty Logical Fallacies" first before you come to see me. Or do you like soccer? I can draw you a tactical board, guaranteed to be more professional than your coach’s – as long as you don’t show up late; I absolutely hate tardiness.
Seriously, do you think life is more like a debate or soccer? Debate requires preparation, soccer requires adaptability, but at its core, it’s all about winning, right?
