“I have lived in three different countries. I was born in Melbourne, Australia and was only one year old when my family moved to Hong Kong. I spent 10 years in Hong Kong, which was an amazing experience. I moved back to Australia when I was 11. The diversity of Hong Kong allowed me to meet people from all over the world and learn about their culture. I also lived in an apartment, forcing me to become close with my siblings. I have one younger brother and one older sister who both play soccer. I am close with both and have grown up relying on them for entertainment. My brother and I are very competitive and have compared goals scored, grades, etc., since a young age. He has pushed me to be better on and off the field.“Off the pitch, I love to spend time with friends and family, listen to music, and watch different sports. When I’m back in Australia, I love watching Australian Rules Football. I grew up playing Aussie rules and sometimes wish I continued playing it. My favorite food is Steak and Chips made by myself. After doing a cooking LEAP last year, I am confident I can make a great steak.
“My favorite place to go on vacation is Bali, Indonesia. I have Indonesian grandparents, so I have visited Indonesia a lot since a young age. I love surfing against my brother, constantly competing over who can catch the bigger wave. I also love the cheap food and nice weather.
“I came to Northwood as a freshman two and a half years ago to hopefully use my soccer to help my family pay for university. I was nervous when I first came. It was a big leap from spending so much time with my family growing up to being halfway across the world from them. I faced a lot of adversity being homesick when I first came, but I quickly overcame that and have loved my experience ever since.
“Reflecting on my Northwood life, I realized how much the school has changed me. As a player, I went from a defender to an attacker, and as a person, I have learned a lot more about community, leadership, and culture. I will miss Northwood, but I am looking forward to the future.
“Next year, I will study finance and play soccer at Georgetown University. I am forever grateful that Northwood and Black Rock have allowed me this opportunity. I still have one month to go, so I will enjoy these last moments and prepare for my future.”
As told to Machai David ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.