America for me seemed only a dream but then it became reality. America gave me the opportunity to get my degree and at the same time play football at an extremely high standard with amazing facilities only one could ever dream about playing in.

In the buildup to my departure to America, I was given contact with one of the players already on the team to help me with any questions and concerns. I also flew out with him for when I left for the very first time. This was also good to help me settle in quicker.

The process of getting to America was tough for me as my grades were not the best here in the UK so I was unable to go through the four-year route straight away. This being said, there was however, an opportunity for me to go out and play still through the Junior college route. This route is a two-year university, where you play and get an associate degree before getting the opportunity to carry on playing and studying at a four-year university. This is where you will complete your bachelor’s degree and play your final two years. In total, you still get the opportunity to play and study for four years but instead of going to one university, you will end up going to two. For me, I thought it was the best route as it gave me the opportunity to meet so many different people. The standard isn’t much different, and it seems to be a very popular route for internationals.

Arriving in America for the very first time was daunting, I wasn’t a very outgoing person, I was quite reserved in the UK and when I arrived at my new house with my teammates, it was scary. I went straight to my room and started to unpack. However, the friendliness of your teammates around you understand the situation you are in leaving home for the first time and offered me out to get some food. This was a chance for me to open up and be a part of a team early on. This is something I agreed too, and the rest was easier for me to settle in.

Over the next four years, I became more confident within myself both on and off the field and learned a lot moving forward into the real world. I got to understand new cultures and develop new skills both on and off the field. The coaches are fantastic and well qualified in their field and as of a result of this, it enables you to develop and further your footballing career. With me, it enabled me to sign pro at the age of 21 after I had graduated university. This was always a dream of mine and something America helped me fulfill.

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