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

My mom started taking me to baby swimming classes when I was six months old, so that’s where my swimming career began. From that point on, it was practically impossible to get me out of the water.

Who do you owe your current success to the most?

I owe a lot to my former coaches and my family, but most of all to my mom. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

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

I’m graduating next May. Until then, my goals in swimming are to support my team and achieve as many strong results and high placements as possible. After graduation, I plan to continue my studies to become a physical therapist, and eventually I would like to work and settle down here in the United States.

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

My family has fully supported me in everything. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mom, because she has always pushed and encouraged me to move forward, and she continues to do so to this day.

What do you like most about America?

What I like most is the attitude of the people here. Everyone seems much more open-minded and open to new things.

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

One of the biggest advantages is that, as an international student, it’s relatively easy to adapt to the pace of college life because the Hungarian education system prepares you for a demanding academic environment.

I would say the language barrier is one of the main challenges, but you get used to it surprisingly quickly. By the end of the semester, sometimes the English word comes to mind before the Hungarian one.

What do you do outside of school and sports?

I currently have two jobs, so they take up a significant part of my days. On weekends, if I don’t have too much studying to do, I usually spend time with my friends.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My days are actually pretty uneventful. I’m at school from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break before rushing back to class. After that, I work until 8 p.m., then study and finally go to sleep.

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

The training sessions are similar, but at the same time completely different. We have roughly the same number of practices, but they are structured differently.

The biggest difference is that although we train together as a team, everyone follows a training program tailored to their own events and distances. Back home, everyone usually follows the same workout.

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

During my freshman year, it was very different. I ate pretty much everything three times a day. Since then, I’ve been trying to pay more attention to what and how I eat because it feels like everything here can make you gain weight.

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

Some of my favorite memories are when the entire team stands by the pool cheering each other on.

What I’m most proud of is that despite dealing with serious pain, I still complete every training session and competition. During my freshman year, I suffered a serious injury that makes everyday life difficult, let alone swimming.

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

I would definitely recommend going for it. It’s really not as scary as it might seem, and Americans will love the fact that you’re an international student.

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

It was a little difficult at first. I didn’t really speak much English, but my teammates helped me with everything and were very understanding.

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

Yes. I currently work as a lifeguard on campus, and I absolutely love it. The job itself isn’t difficult, and my coworkers are the best.

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

Fitting in was very easy. I’m lucky enough to have amazing teammates, and they helped me with everything from the very beginning.

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

I’ve been able to build quite a few connections. I’m currently a member of a sorority, and thanks to that, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many more people.

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

A lot of people ask me this question, but I never really know how to answer it properly. There are definitely differences between the two countries, but at the same time, they are similar in many ways as well.

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

They will definitely have an impact on me because I’m spending several years of my life here and naturally becoming accustomed to the culture and way of life.

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

This is where I’m truly becoming an adult and learning to be completely independent. Yes, I would like to settle down and build my life here.

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

Everything is different compared to the education system back home. One thing I really like is that homework plays a much bigger role in your final grade. This means that even if you’re not completely confident with the material or you’re simply not a great test-taker, you can still successfully pass the course by consistently completing your work.

I also think the tests themselves are structured much better.