What inspired you to start playing sports?

From a very young age, my parents always told my younger brother and me that it didn’t matter which sport we chose—we simply had to play one. We both attended children’s swimming lessons once a week. When I was in elementary school, my swimming instructor asked if I wanted to start competitive swimming. I didn’t like the idea of an individual sport, so I said no.

Shortly afterward, I started taking hip-hop dance classes and later competed in dance competitions. After three years, I decided not to continue because, although I loved it, I didn’t feel talented enough.

In the summer of 2012, I watched my first-ever water polo match during the London Olympic Games. That September, I told my mom that I wanted to play water polo. Fortunately, a beginner’s program had just started in Budafok, close to where we lived. I fell in love with the sport immediately, and since then, I’ve never even considered switching to another sport.

Who do you credit the most for your success?

First and foremost, I owe my success to my parents. They have always supported me in every possible way—driving me to practices, paying my membership fees, attending all my matches, and encouraging me to continue both my athletic and academic career in the United States.

Besides them, there are two coaches who played a huge role in helping me become the player I am today.

The first is my very first coach, Annamária Erdélyi (“Ancsa néni”), who always believed in me and encouraged me to compete confidently even among boys.

The second is Antal Rottler (“Tóni bácsi”), who I joined two years later when I became part of the Polo SC girls’ team. During those years, I experienced countless successes and unforgettable moments. We won a Hungarian National Championship and earned several podium finishes. It was thanks to Tóni bácsi that I developed into the player who eventually earned a scholarship to study at an American university.

What are your future goals, both in sports and beyond (in the U.S. and afterward)?

My current goal is to once again win against the Ivy League teams. Last year, we defeated Brown University for the first time since our program was established, giving us the opportunity to qualify for the CWPA Tournament.

Water polo will always remain an important part of my life because it has given me incredible opportunities. However, after 12 years in the sport, I feel ready to begin a new chapter of my life, most likely without competing at the elite level.

Although I love living in the United States, over the years I’ve become less interested in staying here after graduation. For quite some time now, I’ve been planning to move to England and pursue a career in Public Relations or Marketing. At the moment, I’m applying for various job opportunities.

How supportive was your family of your decision to study and play sports abroad?

When the opportunity to continue both my studies and my athletic career in the United States came up, my parents supported me wholeheartedly. My entire family agreed that it would be an incredible opportunity to experience a different culture, become fluent in English, and create lifelong memories.

On top of that, it allowed me to earn my university degree without giving up the sport I love.

What do you like most about America?

I love how open-minded, friendly, and helpful people are. Since I started university, I haven’t had a single moment when I felt alone. I’ve made amazing friends who are always there for me and have accepted me as if I had lived here my whole life.

In your opinion, what are the advantages and challenges of American college life?

College life in the U.S. is much more dynamic and community-oriented than back home. There are countless opportunities to participate in campus events and activities. If you’re open to getting involved, you’ll definitely never be bored.

I wouldn’t say college life has many major challenges, apart from learning how to manage your own time effectively—which is something you have to do in Hungary as well. Personally, I’ve always received help whenever I struggled with something or didn’t understand the course material. All of my professors have been supportive and understanding. That may also be because I attend a smaller university, where students tend to receive more individual attention than at larger public institutions.

What activities are you involved in outside of school and sports?

In the United States, there are student organizations known as Greek Life. Before coming here, I’d only seen the large fraternity and sorority houses in movies.

At my university, Greek Life isn’t as prominent as it is at some larger schools, but it’s still an active part of campus life. During my freshman year, several of my teammates were already members, and I realized that joining wouldn’t interfere with my athletic commitments.

Since the first semester of my sophomore year, I’ve been a member of a local sorority. Together, we organize charity events and community service projects, raising funds for organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My daily routine depends on whether I’m in season or not.

During the fall semester, we don’t have official matches. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, strength training takes place from 7:00–8:00 a.m. After that, I attend classes, which usually run until around 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. In the evening, we have a two-hour water polo practice from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. After practice, the team usually has dinner together, and then I finish my homework before going to bed.

On weekends, our practices are in the morning and usually finish around noon, leaving the rest of the day free.

During the spring semester, we play four matches every weekend, which means we’re constantly traveling. Our strength training sessions move to the afternoons, but aside from that, my daily schedule remains much the same.

How are training sessions in the U.S. different from those in Hungary?

I think training methods vary from club to club in Hungary, so I can only speak from my own experience. First of all, I should mention that in the U.S. pool distances are measured in yards rather than meters, and even the numbering of the playing positions is different from what I was used to. For example, I play on the wing, which is the No. 5 position in Hungary, while in the U.S. it’s considered the No. 1 position. It took some time to get used to these differences.

Another difference is that there are fewer situations requiring completely independent decision-making, as the game relies more on structured tactical systems. That doesn’t mean individual creativity isn’t allowed—it certainly is—but the overall approach is more system-based.

How is life in the U.S. different from life back home?

I feel that life in the U.S. is much more dynamic and full of experiences. People love organizing activities with friends and family, and there are countless national holidays celebrated with festivals and community events. There always seems to be something to look forward to or plan for.

One thing I especially appreciate is that people of all ages participate in these celebrations, which brings families and communities closer together.

What has been your greatest achievement in water polo? What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the accomplishments I achieved with my club team, Polo SC:

• Hungarian National Children’s Championship – Gold Medal (2014–15)

• Hungarian National Children’s Championship – Silver Medal (2015–16)

• Hungarian National Cadet Championship – Gold Medal (2015–16)

• Hungarian National Cadet Championship – Silver Medal (2016–17)

• Hungarian National Junior Championship – Silver Medal (2018–19)

In addition to those achievements, I was honored with the CWPA Rookie of the Year Award during my freshman season in college. Last season, we also defeated Brown University, marking the first Ivy League victory in our program’s history. Those are the moments I’ll always remember.

What advice would you give to young athletes who are considering studying and competing in the U.S.?

I would absolutely encourage them to go for it. Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll never regret. It’s also an incredible opportunity to continue playing the sport you love while earning a university degree—something that the American college system uniquely offers.

You’ll gain unforgettable experiences, learn about a different culture and lifestyle, make lifelong friends, and grow tremendously as a person. It’s also a huge confidence booster that will benefit you long after graduation. Looking back, choosing to study in America was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who’s still unsure.

How did you manage with English when you first arrived?

Before moving to the United States, I didn’t have many opportunities to practice speaking English. To be honest, English was never my strongest subject, and I didn’t particularly enjoy language classes.

That changed when I started taking English lessons through Study N Sport while preparing for the SAT and my English language exam. By the time I arrived in the U.S., I felt much more confident in my English skills, although I still hadn’t had much real-life speaking experience.

When university started, it was a huge relief that I could understand almost everything my professors, coaches, and classmates were saying, aside from the occasional unfamiliar word or expression. Speaking fluently wasn’t too difficult either, but I think it took about a year to a year and a half before I could hold conversations completely naturally, without having to think about every sentence.

How easy or difficult was it to settle in?

Fortunately, settling in was very easy. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, supportive, and open-minded, which helped me become more confident both in myself and in my English. Because there was always something happening—classes, water polo, friends, or other activities—I never really felt homesick.

Have you been able to build meaningful relationships? How important is networking to you?

Thankfully, I made friends during my very first year, both within athletics and outside of sports. I met even more people during my sophomore year after joining my sorority. That’s also when I met my closest friends, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

I truly hope these friendships will continue even after graduation despite the distance. I think maintaining strong relationships is incredibly important. For example, one of my former teammates from California moved to Spain after graduation to teach English. Since we were both in Europe last December, I traveled to visit her even though we’d only kept in touch online for quite some time.

Do you think there’s such a thing as the “American lifestyle”? If so, how is it different from life back home?

To me, the American lifestyle is defined by a positive attitude, an active social life, and spontaneity. People generally live life on their own terms and don’t worry too much about what others think.

The biggest difference compared to home is that people tend to focus on how they’re going to achieve their goals, rather than worrying about all the obstacles that might stand in their way.

How do you think your years in the U.S. have changed you as a person?

At first, I didn’t really notice the changes myself. However, after my first year, several people told me that I had become much more confident and outgoing.

I’ve never been a naturally extroverted person, but moving to the U.S. forced me to become more independent. Fortunately, everyone was incredibly welcoming and supportive, which made communicating and building relationships much easier.

Overall, college life has had a very positive impact on me and has given me a level of confidence that I know will benefit me in every stage of my future life.

Have you considered staying in the United States after graduation?

A year ago, I thought there was a good chance I would stay in the U.S. after finishing university. However, over the past year I’ve completely reconsidered my plans. Right now, my goal is to move back to Europe after graduation—if not to Hungary, then somewhere else in Europe.

That said, I still truly enjoy living in the United States, and I certainly wouldn’t rule out returning in the future.

What do you think about the American education system? What does it do better—or differently—than the Hungarian system?

Both the American and the Hungarian higher education systems have their own strengths and weaknesses. However, the biggest difference lies in the overall mindset.

In Hungary, many students study primarily to avoid failing exams. In the United States, the goal is to achieve the highest possible grade. Professors focus their exams on the material actually covered in class and make sure that every student has fully understood the course content before moving on.