HOW @KENNAHAWAII STARTED.
In the summer of 2015, my junior year of college, I was presented with my first adult experience abroad with a company called Beyond Sports. It was an international opportunity based on sports and philanthropy in Costa Rica. I got to play soccer competitively and also volunteer with local schools, teams, and disabled children. This experience left such an impression in my heart, I knew one day I’d live a life full of travel, soccer, and helping others.
Beyond Sports in Costa Rica.
In the fall of 2016, I felt a huge void in my life stemming from trying to fit into identities that were limiting me. At the end of fall semester of my senior year, everything I was, “a girlfriend”, “a student-athlete”, “an honor roll student,” was taken out from under me faster than I could wrap my head around. My relationship of 4 years was coming to an end, my collegiate soccer career ended, and I felt my school life slipping. I was suddenly alone and felt like a complete stranger to myself.
It was during this hard time that I saw a flyer for a semester study abroad program in Ireland and suddenly I remembered the trip to Costa Rica and how much joy it brought me. I figured it couldn’t hurt to leave everything I identified with behind and spend 5 months in a place where no one knew me. I applied for the program, got in, and accepted my spot in the 2016 Ireland study abroad program at the University of Limerick.
Discovering new places in Ireland.
During the 5 months I was abroad, I spent time backpacking around France, Holland, Spain, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, and of course, Ireland. I discovered a new sense of independence, embraced new cultures, and even got to continue playing soccer for University of Limerick. I didn’t want to leave but in May I returned back to The States to graduate with a BA in International Business and walk the line with my class. I came back refreshed, empowered, and ready to take on the world.
Receiving my Diploma from Pacific University.
The week before I left Ireland, I got an email from the coach who took me to Costa Rica inviting me to play soccer semi-professionally in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Talk about full circle!!) Prior to this email, I thought my soccer career was over. I suppressed my dreams of pursuing soccer professionally because I thought it wasn’t realistic. When I got the email from Coach Drew, I was over the moon. It was a no brainer decision to move to Chattanooga and play with Chattanooga FC for the 2016 season. Two days after I graduated with my class, I boarded a flight to Tennessee and thus my pursuit of playing professional soccer began.
From 2016 till now, I’ve played with Chattanooga FC, Issaquah Gunners FC based in Issaquah, Washington, Fresno Freeze FC based in Fresno, California, Wexford Youths FC based in Wexford, Ireland, Gintra Universitetas in Siauliai, Lithuania and IA Akranes based in Akranes, Iceland.Soccer has taken me all over the world.
Match Day in Chattanooga.
I’ve been wanting so badly to start this blog since my study abroad trip in 2016, but I was crippled by the fear of what others would say and thinking I wouldn’t have anything valuable to share. After a lot of self-work and digging deep, I finally have the confidence to launch my first blog ever!
I am following my heart by launching this blog and I want to share with you how liberating and empowering it is to live a life without boarders.
I have met so many beautiful people along this journey and I have been on many, many bucket list adventures. I want to share my journey in hopes that it will inspire you and encourage you to whole-heartedly pursue your highest life journey too. Through Kenna Hawaii, I want to share all things about my life, travel, fitness, self-love, all the lessons I’ve learned along the way, and basically whatever my heart leads me to share. All self-expressed and 100% authentic.
I hope you always find the courage to live an extraordinary life.
All my love,
Kenna