Just like that, another week has passed. On Monday I was kindly reminded by Facebook that 5 years ago to the date (April 24th) I committed to Quinnipiac University. What a decision that turned out to be. All the learning, experiences, people, opportunities and so much more came from a decision made fairly blindly. All I know is that someone was looking out for me that day. And here I am 5 years later, heading down a path never imaginable before I even knew where or who Quinnipiac University was.
My week followed a similar flow to the rest of April. The continued training has been great, and although I had a few knocks and niggles this past week, I have still been training well and developing the new habits to become instinctual in my general play. As the time goes on, the tests are slowly approaching as I will hope to soon be outside but also playing a few preparation games prior to the trip in July. Playing in games will be a true test of my development from the last few months.
I worked my regular work schedule throughout the week and then on Saturday Jake and I were asked to help out field marshaling at a tournament that was run by Sockers FC. Bridges relationship with Sockers is pretty strong with both our coaches also coaching for the club, and we use their facilities to train at, so it was only right we were able to help out. We were given time to go home after we coached and before we began working to eat and gather as much wet weather gear we had and anything warm we had. Out came both of our suitcases as we dug deep for gloves, hats, rain jackets, the works. It was windy with driving rain and an air temperature of just above freezing. 
Not the ideal conditions to be wandering fields and watching games, but we stuck it out. Around 7.30pm a massive thunder clap and lightning strike hit within probably a mile of the fields and so that was the message to send everyone packing. However we stuck around, huddled around a gas fire under a big tent as we began to organize and then call each and every team with their updated schedule for the next days play. It was certainly an experience and I am just thankful to still have my toes and fingers attached.
By Saturday night I was exhausted and so a full day of rest on Sunday was much needed. The weather played into our lazy mood around the apartment and hopefully we are well rested for another big week of training and work.
The weeks seem to be flying by at this rate. And just like that, another one has been completed here in Wheaton. It was a week that showed how quickly things can change in the world of football. By Saturday, three of the lads in the apartment had all left for various footballing opportunities. It is great for them to be receiving opportunities to go train/trial/play for various teams around the world. But this has made for a bit of an empty apartment, however I am not complaining at all. I’m quite enjoying the simplicity of only having 2 others around and to schedule with.
ps the bank account. And this week I began coaching a 14yr old football player. He is a great kid with the desire to improve and develop, but it is his willingness to learn that will help him most in the long run, whether in football or life. So the two hours a week I spend coaching him will be memorable ones for me as I am able to share my knowledge and life experience with him as I look to develop him into a better player and person.
s not the most strenuous, its simply watching football and ensuring there are no disruptions from parents, coaches, players, report injuries, and work with the referees. Getting paid to watch football, I can’t complain!
Tuesday, I was straight back into training, and the intensity has risen into a new gear. Throughout the week the sessions were tough, and I have embraced that as I know it will only get me to a better place than where I am currently. Through my experiences over the past 10 months, I’ve continued to embrace the grind knowing that it will all be worth it in the end, and that is what keeps me going. It is a mentality that I have developed, through rejection and disappointment, but my drive and grit allow me to continue. Simply put, my mentality is to chase my dreams, something that so many young people fail to do and just opt for safety and comfort.
By Sunday, I was able to relax a little bit and enjoy the great spring weather that the greater Chicago Area is treating us with. We headed into Naperville to watch some academy games of u18s and u16s. It has happened to me a few times where I am always the one playing football, that I never really get to go and watch a live game of young players, so it was nice. As I mentioned earlier, connections are something that are very important to my opportunities in life, and today was no different. Nearly 6 years on from when I attended a camp at Northwestern University as I was looking at colleges for scholarships, I ran into Neil Jones, who at the time was an assistant coach at Northwestern, and who is originally from New Zealand. He is currently the head coach of Loyola Men’s Soccer team, just outside Chicago, and he was scouting the academy games for players for his team. We had a good catch up about all that had gone on in my career in the last 6 odd years and as always, it was just lovely to have another Kiwi around! You never know who you’ll bump into, so it’s always best to leave a good impression on people so that down the line when you may reconnect or bump into them, they are willing to help!
A very eventful and productive week began in Wheaton. The regular training routine along with coaching kept us busy. On Tuesday we had to drop James off in Chicago so Jacob and I took that as an opportunity to explore Chicago a little bit. It was good to take advantage of any opportunity we get to see the city and spend time there, and we did just th
at. Walking a nice loop, up the main street before heading across to the Bean and walking back down along the lakeside. We got to see a fair few things, but always more to see on another visit, hopefully when the weather gets warmer! Wednesday morning, we didn’t have a morning session and so we took advantage of the time to pick up another bunk bed frame from storage and build if for the apartment. The bedroom now has two full bunk beds in it, and looks complete, and surprisingly, not too crowded as many would expect.
On Saturday morning, I boarded a flight to Hartford, CT to visit all my friends back at Quinnipiac. I had a very busy schedule to ensure that I caught up with all the important ones I needed to, and of course there were many little surprises in there seeing people I didn’t expect to see, which made it all the more special. It wouldn’t be a visit to Quinnipiac without me attending athletic events and supporting fellow Bobcats. On Sunday morning, the weather was just like the lovely spring days I was used to and so I made the most of it by hiking up Sleeping Giant Mountain with a friend. It was just wonderful. The afternoon was once again filled with catching up with friends. When I think about it, it had been 6 months since I was last at Quinnipiac, and a lot has gone on since then, so I had to tell my story a fair few times to get everyone caught up. My voice took a toll but thats the way it is. It sure was well worth it. The feeling of knowing so many people care about where I am and what I am doing is so great, and along with that, they are also very supportive and admire me chasing my dreams.
meant something to me for once being a Quinnipiac alum. Our Women’s Basketball team took the whole Quinnipiac Community on a great ride all the way to the Sweet 16. It was an incredible and inspiring journey they went on, and I was happy to go along for the ride. They have certainly put Quinnipiac on the map! Unfortunately the journey ended in the Sweet 16, but the standard has now been set and I’m sure it wont be too long until they get there again!
I am certainly now settled in Wheaton, Illinois. My second week here has passed and I have begun to find a bit of a rhythm. I am more comfortable and more focused on the task ahead of me. After having a couple conversations with the assistant coach this week, I have a clearer picture of a few areas of my game that I really need to focus on. I put extra time into these areas before training, during training and also in the gym back at the apartment. As previously stated, I will get out of this experience what I put into it, and I have full control of my effort. So I am making sure I put in the work required, and more, to build a strong platform for future opportunities that I hope will arise.
Well this week has involved a massive step or progression in my development towards my goal of becoming a professional. On Monday I flew to Chicago where I was picked up by two future team mates. I have linked up with an organization called 
ve signed professionally with teams. So it is a well run organization, that is proven to be successful. But as I have already been told by the coaches, and also prior Bridges players, you will be as successful as you want to, all dependent on the work you put in leading up to the trip.
hopefully build my platform higher for when we travel to Europe and I can kick on from there. For now, the focus is not Europe. The focus is working on different areas of my game each day, and even in the first week, I have already began developing areas of my game that the coaches believe need improving and I can already see a difference.
Wednesday I was able to rest and recover a little bit after the busy few days of travel and trials, and just have a bit of down time to reflect on things and really question my intentions about what I want to achieve. Thursday I went for a run along the Delaware river and it was nice to get out of the house. I also began to re make my video and edit my Football/Soccer CV in an effort to search for new opportunities, so that was taking a lot of time in my days. I had to cut through many hours of games and get clips from various games from this season and last. It was a tedious task, but it needed to be done in order for me to be seen by coaches and teams for new opportunities. This is the final product 
where I was able to get a good work out in, and Anne was able to continue to do her rehab and balance work. Never thought the day would come that we would go to a gym together!! In the afternoon, we headed up to Fred’s place. He was recently completed building an incredible mansion on the river north of Philadelphia. I saw it last when he was still building, so seeing it complete was quite incredible. He has yet to fully move things into it. We had a lovely meal and watched a great film, Meet Joe Black!
Sunday morning I picked up South Street Philly Bagels for breakfast, before Anne dropped me off just passed the Museum where the statue of Rocky is on the steps, and I walked along the river before I found a nice spot to read my book in the sun. The weather has been unseasonably warm, with Sundays temperature near 20 degrees celsius.
Another week that began in one place and ended in another. I was at Marcos’s in Myrtle Beach until Thursday. We continued to have a great time together, going for a run together, having salad nights, going bowling, and then on Wednesday, he took me to his new office as such at Coastal Carolina University. It was great to see how another University Athletic Department functions and the different facilities etc. It was a great experience and the campus is lovely, especially with the sun shining and it feeling a little more like summer. I was also able to watch a bit of the teams training, which was good. It is only Spring season so all they did was play, but even then you could see how differently the team was drilled.
organized for me to stay with her friend, and it worked out great. A couch was all I needed to rest my head at night and I was great. In the evening, Rachel, my host took her dog for a walk down on the Battery, downtown Charleston and I joined. Although it was dark, it was a lovely evening with the air crisp and the water splashing against the Battery. That was really as much of Charleston I got to see.
iant grass and great facilities. Over the course of the two days, I was pleased with my play and the impact I had in the games. However, I obviously wasn’t what the coaching staff were looking for and now I am waiting to receive feedback so that I know what I need to improve on to take the next step as a player. After the second day, I showered at the stadium and then headed to the airport to catch a flight to Newark. I was picked up by James Greco, another former teammate of mine from Quinnipiac University. It was great to catch up with him as we drove to his place. We spent the evening catching up, and then Sunday morning James, his Dad, and myself headed out in the freezing rain to a local high school to get the legs going and pass a ball around in preparation for the next tryout, which James was also attending. Although cold and wet, it was good to get the legs going and for me to adjust to the temperature as I was now back in the Northeast winter. Two more of our teammates from Quinnipiac met us at James’s house and we all jumped in the car and headed for Harrisburg, PA.