When did you start playing sports, and what or who inspired you to begin?

I started swimming in 2004 on the recommendation of an orthopedic doctor, initially as part of a preschool swimming program. Later, with encouragement from my coaches, swimming became more than just a form of therapy and developed into a competitive sport for me.

Who do you owe your current success to the most?

I owe my success to my family, my coaches, the entire Study N Sport team, my professors, and also to myself because I never gave up.

What are your future plans and goals, both in sports and outside of sports? (In the USA and afterwards?)

I stopped competitive swimming in February 2023, as I graduated in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Therefore, I no longer have any goals related to competitive sports.

I am currently pursuing my master’s degree here in the United States, in West Virginia. My goal is to become a successful clinical psychotherapist/counselor and hopefully build my career here. I am also considering pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

How supportive were your parents and family of your plans to study and compete abroad?

I consider myself very fortunate. My parents and my entire family fully supported my decision to study abroad. Of course, being separated from each other wasn’t easy, but everyone knew that in the long run, this would be the best path for achieving my goals.

What do you like most about America?

I especially like how friendly and helpful people are, as well as their overall mindset and attitude toward life.

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

There are countless advantages to college life here: networking, gaining experience, motivation, opportunities for personal growth, research and conferences, as well as the balance between academics and sports.

Being on your own here also teaches you independence and how to manage your time effectively.

The only real challenge that comes to mind isn’t necessarily related to university itself, but rather to being so far away from your family. It means you sometimes have to miss important events back home, but that is one of the sacrifices that comes with this opportunity.

What do you do outside of school and sports?

During my undergraduate studies, I had many opportunities to travel and explore the surrounding areas. Both universities I attended—or currently attend—are relatively close to several major cities, including Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, and New York City, which makes traveling relatively easy.

West Virginia is also full of national parks, so there are plenty of opportunities for hiking. In addition to my recreational activities, I also worked a lot at the university’s sports center.

What does a typical day look like for you?

During my undergraduate studies, I had two training sessions every weekday, including both dryland and swimming workouts. I usually had two or three classes per day, as well as clinical practice during my final year.

In addition, I worked an average of four to five hours a day as a swimming instructor and gym receptionist.

Currently, I attend classes, spend a lot of time reading and studying, and work as a teaching and research assistant. I have always tried—and still try—to make time for rest so that I don’t burn out. I believe it is extremely important for athletes to take care of themselves. At the same time, I won’t deny that there have been, and still are, days when it is difficult to keep everything under control.

How is training in the U.S. different from training in Hungary?

Personally, I found training in the U.S. much easier. Here, the focus is not only on physical performance—although there are exceptions—but also on mental health.

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

During my first year, I struggled a lot with food. I could only eat at the university dining hall, and as we know, American food isn’t always the healthiest.

However, that was also part of the learning process—getting to know different foods and understanding what works best for my body.

From my second year onward, I was able to cook for myself, which made it much easier to maintain a healthy and conscious diet.

What has been your greatest memory or achievement since you started swimming? What are you most proud of?

During my freshman year, I managed to break a 20-year-old school record in the mile.

When I touched the wall and looked back, my entire team was celebrating my achievement together. That moment perfectly represents how supportive and family-like the atmosphere within the team was.

I’m incredibly proud that I had the opportunity to be part of such an amazing team.

What advice would you give to young athletes who are considering taking this opportunity?

It may sound cliché, but follow your dreams. If you truly want something, you can make it happen.

You’ll have the opportunity to discover yourself while experiencing an entirely new culture. You’ll also gain memories and experiences that no one can ever take away from you.

How did you manage with the language when you first arrived?

It wasn’t easy at first, but thanks to my professors and friends, I was able to adapt very quickly.

Have you had the opportunity to work on campus? If so, what has your experience been like?

As I mentioned earlier, during my undergraduate studies I worked as a swimming instructor and receptionist at the university’s sports center.

I had a very positive experience, and I was able to balance my classes, training sessions, and work quite easily.

How easy or difficult was it for you to fit in?

I’m an extrovert, and the people around me were also very welcoming, so I was able to fit in almost immediately during both my undergraduate and graduate studies.

Have you been able to build connections, and how important do you think networking is?

I’m approaching the end of my fifth year here, so fortunately I’ve been able to build many valuable relationships.

In today’s world, connections are incredibly important. You never know when someone might be able to help you, whether it’s with a job opportunity or simply with something in everyday life. At the same time, you may also become the person who can help someone else.

In your experience, is there such a thing as the “American lifestyle,” and if so, how is it different from life back home?

The kindness, openness, and helpfulness of people definitely stand out to me.

Of course, just like anywhere else, life here isn’t always easy. That is something I’ve come to understand more clearly as I’ve gotten older. Even so, I still believe I can build a more successful future for myself here and find better opportunities within my profession, particularly in psychotherapy and psychology.

How do you think your years in the U.S. have affected your personality?

I’ve grown tremendously over the past five years. I wouldn’t necessarily say that my personality has changed, but I’ve gotten to know myself much better, and I’m no longer afraid of facing problems.

I’ve always been independent, but now I feel even more confident when it comes to overcoming obstacles. I’ve also learned to accept the things around me that I cannot change, although I think my professional field has also contributed to developing that mindset.

Have you considered staying in the U.S. for a few years after graduation, or perhaps even longer?

I’m currently completing my master’s degree here in the United States in clinical counseling/psychotherapy. In order to practice independently in the U.S., I will still need to complete two years of supervised clinical experience.

I would also like to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. So I definitely see myself staying here for at least the next ten years, although I have a feeling I might eventually stay permanently.

But who knows? You never know what life will bring.

What do you think about the American education system? What do they do better or at least differently compared to Hungary?

I haven’t attended university in Hungary, so I can only base my opinion on what I’ve heard from others. From that perspective, American higher education seems much more practical and focused on what is truly important.

I can’t necessarily say whether it is better, but personally, it seems more straightforward and appears to involve less stress.