FULTON, Mo. - From thousands of miles away in South Africa to Fulton, Missouri, KG's journey is one built on courage, adjustment, and an unwavering belief in chasing something bigger. What started as a conversation with WWU's Director of Soccer, Tommy Nienhaus, turned into an opportunity to not only continue her soccer career but to grow as a person in ways she never imagined. Through culture shock, competition, and personal growth, KG has embraced every part of her experience at William Woods and turned it into something meaningful.
Like many of our students at William Woods University, they all have their "why" for choosing the Woods for their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. For KG, the connection and opportunity that William Woods offered to her. It wasn't just about soccer for KG; it was about how she was approached and the environment that she saw herself stepping into.
"The way Tommy talked to me about the school and everything, and I could just see myself going here," KG said. "Woods is a small campus with so many international students that it surrounded me with people who understand me and know where I come from, which is why I chose Woods."
Coming in as a Division 1 transfer, KG faced a different challenge as the competition and the team aspect were widely different.
"At Division 1, all the work and effort is on you and your own time to get better, compared to Woods, where you have to be present every day and get better every day," she explained. "Here, you have to get things done. There is competition every day to earn your spot, since they care a little more at this level, and it has caused me to become a better player with the level of competition."
This new internal pressure for KG has pushed her to elevate her game and mindset, forcing her to take ownership of her development in ways she hadn't before. However, the biggest adjustment for KG wasn't on the playing surface, but was seen off the field. Moving from South Africa to the United States brought a level of culture shock that KG had to navigate quickly.
"The people here are really nice," she said. "Even something like holding the door is automatic here, compared to back home, it really isn't a thing." The food was also shocking to KG, who continued, "The food shocked me with instant rice or powdered potatoes; it really threw me for a loop."
Despite all those differences, the people here are what made the transition so much smoother for her.
"In my country, it is rare to invite someone over to your house for the holidays," she said. "But here, people will ask you to come over to their place for the holidays, offer me a place to stay, and just be there to help me in general, which made a big difference for me."
Adjusting wasn't always easy, but KG took a straightforward approach to the challenge it brought.
"To be honest, I told myself if you want to do something, you have to be strong and accept everything that comes with that decision," she explained. "You don't have time to complain; you just have to adjust and keep going."
That same mindset quickly carried over onto the soccer field, where KG quickly realized the game itself demanded more from her physically.
"In South Africa, the game is more about skill and creativity," she explained. "Here, it's very physical, and when I first came to America, I was a good player, but I wasn't strong enough. They told me that I wouldn't survive if I didn't adapt. That pushed me to work extra hard so I could compete."
While the style of play differs, KG has found ways to bring pieces of her background into her game and share them with her teammates. From a more free-flowing style to a different approach in communication, her presence has added a unique difference to the team.
"At home, we just talked naturally on the field, like saying 'come on, let's go'" she said. "Here in the States, it is more structured and more specific. The game is also faster here. I don't have time to stand on the ball too long; we have to make our decisions quickly."
One of the biggest differences for KG with the game, calling it soccer in the States, compared to 'football' back in South Africa, was one of the bigger changes. Off the field, the international community at William Woods has played a huge role in helping KG feel at home.
"Woods made it easier with the number of international students that we have at the Woods. You could even find people from the same country here, which is nice to know I could have someone who understands me," she said. "You can end up using your normal language with people or even start to pick up some new ones as well as learning about different cultures."
KG has used this to expand her worldview and even start learning some Portuguese.
Motivation is something that drives KG every day, and her drive runs deeper than just the game itself. "My uncle motivates me the most," she said. "He was really good and had the chance to make it professional, but it didn't happen. So for me, it's about showing that just because you come from a small town doesn't mean you can't make it big.
When it comes to moments for KG, there is one moment that stands out above the rest here at Woods.
"We were losing 3-2 with 5 minutes left in the game against Graceland, and I scored the last two goals to give us the victory," she said. "That was one of my best moments ever. The energy from the crowd and my teammates is what athletes always dream about."
Looking ahead for KG, her goals are clear, but she remains open to where her journey takes her.
"I'm into teaching, and I love kids," she said. "I also still want to coach, because I love this sport so much, and I am also a certified referee in soccer, so I will always be involved with soccer. I also might consider going pro, but at this point, it is whatever life gives me."
KG also plans to stay in the States once she is done at the Woods for the challenge that it offers her.
"I like the challenge of being here," she said. "Doing things on my own, making my own decisions, is something I think can really help me grow."
KG finished off with a special call out to her family.
"Oh, my family. I'm really grateful for them, for everything that they have done for me. I know I haven't seen them in four years, but they've always been in my heart, and I'll always represent them everywhere I go. I also have the friends that I made since I've been here for the past four years, they've been amazing, and they've been supportive, like they never made me miss home because they were my home. I just realized that you don't need people who are like your blood to call them family, but people who support you, people who are always there for you, and people who care for you. The host families that I also met along the way were so amazing. Thank you for accepting me, and thank you for supporting my journey and everything, and thank you for being here. I really appreciate it, and I'm doing it for my siblings, because they're really nice, and they look up to me all the time."
From South Africa to Mississippi to Missouri, from culture shock to confidence, she has embraced every challenge in front of her and continues to prove that no dream is too big, no matter where you come from.
