Boglarka Ori

I do not remember a time in my life when sports were not present. When I was twelve, I first participated in track and field at a competitive level, and I soon realized what it means to dedicate one’s time to becoming an accomplished athlete. Training as an athlete during my teenage years—making it to the Hungarian youth national track and field team—taught me to be more disciplined and hardworking.

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Later throughout my University years in Abu Dhabi I joined the women’s soccer team and started an entirely different journey from the one I had in Europe. I was in a country where women often have fewer recreational opportunities than men. This was the time I truly started to have a passion and realization of how it’s like to be a woman in sports. Not only I was playing a sport that is not as popular among women, I was also in a country where the whole concept of sports for women differs from what I experienced before.

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Just as I got used to playing in Abu Dhabi, I was done with my BA and moved to the UK to start my master’s studies. Here as well I made it to the women’s soccer team and once again had to get used to yet a new environment. 

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Although I have had a difficult and diverse journey, one thing has stayed the same: my passion for sports and the desire to play wherever I am. Looking back, I wish I had a mentor throughout my years that I could have looked up to and turned to whenever I had doubts or questions. Right now, as a sports psychology student I realized the importance of having someone by your side for both mental and physical advice is a huge benefit.