When did you start playing sports, what motivated you, or who inspired you?

I have been involved in sports since I was a child. I tried various martial arts, soccer, and handball, but eventually I chose American football. There was never any question that I wanted sports to be part of my everyday life. Even during my handball years, I was already interested in American football. Fortunately, I had a friend who played the sport and was happy to introduce me to this world. Overall, it turned out to be a great decision, because I have enjoyed the sport ever since.

Who do you credit the most for your success so far?

First and foremost, I owe everything I have achieved so far to my parents, because I am certain that without their support, I would not be where I am today. Secondly, I am grateful to my coaches for helping me develop professionally and technically, as well as to my friends, whose encouragement helped me achieve both my short- and long-term goals. I am extremely thankful to all of them! And, of course, I also had to put in the work myself!

What are your future plans and goals, both in sports and outside of sports? In the U.S. and afterwards?

For now, I plan to stay in Division II and continue improving every single day so that I can become the best possible player at my position. My current plan is to stay in the United States after college and start building my career here.

My primary goal is to earn a master’s degree, and I am also very interested in attending law school, as I was accepted to the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at the University of Szeged in Hungary as well. Of course, I would also like to gain practical work experience as soon as possible. Fortunately, I have many opportunities ahead of me, so I do not have to worry too much about what the future holds just yet.

How supportive were your parents and family of your plan to study and play sports abroad?

I consider myself very fortunate because they have always been my number one supporters in everything. From the very beginning, they were supportive of my ideas and plans.

What do you like most about America?

There are many things I like about America, as I have already seen and experienced a lot during these two semesters. But if I had to highlight a few things, I would say meeting new people, experiencing a new culture, making new friends, and having countless new places to discover.

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

At first, I was worried that studying at university level in English would be difficult, but fortunately everything went smoothly. The professors and students were very helpful, and after a few weeks I was able to fully adjust.

I do not have personal experience with Hungarian university education, but the education I am receiving here is extremely high-quality, well-organized, and full of valuable experiences. Of course, being so far away from my family is not always easy, but fortunately I am able to travel home relatively often, sometimes for longer periods as well.

What do you do outside of school and sports?

Most of my free time is naturally spent socializing, usually with my friends here or attending various events organized by the university. At the moment, I am also focusing on getting my driver’s license, and occasionally I edit videos for private clients.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Most of my time is naturally taken up by studying and two training sessions a day. In addition, I also work — and I will soon be working on campus as well. As I mentioned earlier, I enjoy socializing, so I usually spend my free time with my friends.

How does training in the U.S. compare to training in Hungary?

The overall structure is similar to training back home, but one of the biggest differences is that if it rains, snows, or the wind is blowing, we still train outside. Partly because people here are more accustomed to this kind of weather, but also because training under difficult conditions is considered part of developing both physical and mental toughness.

How does your diet in the U.S. differ from your diet back home?

We train more and for longer periods, and we have more position-specific training sessions and position meetings with specialized coaches. Every training session here is planned very precisely in advance, including exactly what each individual player, the coaching staff, and the team as a whole should be doing.

What has been your best memory or achievement since you started playing sports, and what are you most proud of?

Honestly, I could not choose just one moment as the best, because every game has been exciting and memorable for different reasons. For me, the greatest achievement is simply being able to play here in America. It is a huge dream come true — something that still seemed almost impossible just a year ago.

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

Personally, I have never regretted coming to America. I think it is an enormous challenge, which is exactly why I encourage everyone to dream big, seize the opportunity, and do everything they can to make it happen, because they will have unforgettable experiences!

At the same time, the reality is that America is very far from home, and being away from your family and familiar surroundings can place significant mental and emotional pressure on you, so you have to be prepared for that as well.

How did you manage with the language at the beginning?

As I mentioned earlier, I was a little nervous about it at first, but I quickly realized that there was no reason to be. Everyone was extremely helpful, and it did not take long to adjust. The biggest challenge was getting used to American slang in everyday conversations.

Have you had the opportunity to try a student job on campus? If so, what has your experience been like?

I have actually just applied for an on-campus job, so I cannot share any personal experience yet. However, I have heard from my friends that working at the university is definitely worthwhile, which is why I decided to apply as well.

Was it easy or difficult for you to fit in?

Fortunately, most people here are extremely helpful and friendly. Especially when they heard that I was from Europe, they became very interested and curious. I was able to make new friends and settle in relatively quickly.

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

It is extremely important to me to build a network here and to meet new people and make new friends. Fortunately, I feel that I am on the right track because I have already met many amazing people.

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

Of course. Everyone has an image in their mind of what the “American lifestyle” might be like. Everything is bigger here, there are more opportunities, and you are always discovering something new.

But the reality is that life is not automatically easy here either. You still have to work hard for everything and put in the effort if you want to move forward.

How do you think your years in the U.S. will affect your personality?

Simply having the opportunity to gain new experiences and make new friends has already had a positive impact on my personal development. I have become more accepting, open-minded, independent, positive, flexible, and confident.

Have you considered staying in the U.S. for a few years, or even longer, after completing your studies?

Absolutely. I have thought about it, and that is actually exactly what I am planning to do. I would like to stay in the United States.

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

What I like most is that the relationship and communication between professors and students is much more transparent and friendly, which makes the overall school experience much more positive.

I also really appreciate that professors are genuinely passionate about what they teach and truly care about helping their students discover and develop their full potential.