I’ve faced many challenges in my life, but I consider myself incredibly fortunate that most of my struggles have been by choice. Moving to Germany alone at 15, and then again at 17, were decisions I made, fully aware of the difficulties ahead. I’ve been privileged to walk a path of chosen hardships, and I recognise it’s my responsibility to use this privilege for good. There are countless people around the world who would give anything for the freedom I have—to do what I want, when I want, how I want.

To squander such freedom would be disrespectful to those who don’t have the same opportunities.

I didn’t grow up in luxury. My upbringing was in a middle-income household in Australia, safe and supportive, with my amazing mum and dad always encouraging me to pursue my ambitions. They trusted me to make the most of my life because they saw my dedication, professionalism, and effort in everything I did.

At 18, after my first season of professional football with SpVgg Bayreuth in Germany’s 3. Liga during the 2022/23 season, I experienced the high of being on the bench for a match against Borussia Dortmund II.

But that high was followed by devastating lows. I never stepped onto a professional football field again.

It all began with a serious health issue that required emergency surgery. Alone in Germany, living in a small apartment, I faced the frightening possibility that I might have cancer. I had to manage everything myself—getting to and from the hospital, undergoing surgery, and enduring the uncertainty. The doctors didn’t even tell me the results of the surgery until my parents, back in Australia, called the hospital a week later to confirm it wasn’t cancer.

The relief of that diagnosis didn’t mark the end of my health challenges. Over the next three months, I was in and out of hospitals in three different countries. When my apartment lease in Germany ended, I moved to Budapest in the hope of recovering fully and resuming my football career, especially as I was on the verge of gaining Hungarian citizenship.

However, recovery was slow. In Budapest, I started training with a 3rd division team, hoping to regain my fitness. Most of my training was on my own, either in my apartment or on a basketball court in the middle of the city—moments I documented on my LinkedIn profile. But I had come back too early, and I wasn’t ready. Then came another setback: the team’s winter break, which lasted three months, and the realisation that I could only play in the 2nd or 3rd divisions if I officially became a Hungarian citizen—a process that was still pending.

Adding to the strain, in my first week in Budapest, while staying in a youth hostel, I fainted in the middle of the night. Gasping for air on the floor of a room full of strangers, I feared something had gone terribly wrong post-surgery. Over the next few days, I experienced more dizzy spells and fainting episodes. When an ambulance came to check on me, I refused to go to the hospital after seeing the conditions of medical care in Hungary.

Despite my determination to return to football, the reality was harsh.

I had opportunities to play for 5th division clubs in Germany, but it didn’t feel right. During this time, a phone call with Jack McLoughlin—my now co-founder and podcast co-host—changed everything. Jack had faced similar health challenges and setbacks in his professional football career, and our shared experiences brought us closer.

Ultimately, I made the decision to return to Australia. It wasn’t the path I had envisioned, but it was the one I needed to take to begin building the next chapter of my life—one focused on turning my struggles into a platform that could help others overcome their own.