From as early as I can remember, my goal was simple: play Division I basketball in the United States. Growing up in Northern Ireland, that dream felt huge — but it was one I was determined to chase.

After finishing school, I moved to the U.S. to attend The Hun School of Princeton, where I completed a postgraduate year with the hope of being recruited by a college program. That opportunity came when I earned a scholarship to Saint Peter’s University in New Jersey, where I studied International Business and played NCAA Division I basketball for two years.

Like many student-athletes, I experienced the reality of college athletics — the excitement, the growth, and the unpredictability. After coaching changes, I made the difficult decision to transfer domestically to Houston Christian University in Texas. There, I played basketball, completed my bachelor’s degree, and later went on to earn my MBA in Management.

While my time in the U.S. was filled with incredible experiences and lifelong friendships, it also gave me firsthand insight into the pain points of international and domestic student transitions. Even with the advantage of having supportive coaches, athletic departments, and parents who understood education systems, the process was far from easy.

Each move — from Northern Ireland to the U.S., and then between universities — meant gathering transcripts, getting the right source to send them in the right format, and making sure they reached the right receiver. It was a cycle that repeated itself every time I made a change. It was stressful, time-consuming, and costly — especially when you’re thousands of miles from home trying to focus on your studies and your sport.

That’s why Pearsana resonated so deeply with me. If a platform like Pearsana had existed during my journey, it would have simplified everything by tenfold. Having a secure digital wallet to store, verify, and share all of my academic and athletic documents — instantly and from anywhere — would have taken away so much of the stress that came with each transition.

Now, in my post-college life, I’ve realized that those same challenges don’t disappear once you graduate. As a young professional navigating the workplace, I still need access to verified records — transcripts, certifications, and identification documents — and Pearsana makes that process seamless.

That’s ultimately why I felt passionate enough to join the Pearsana team. Having lived through the pain points firsthand, I wanted to be part of the solution — to help students, families, and institutions experience the streamlined, trusted process that I wish I’d had.

For me, Pearsana represents more than technology — it’s a way to make opportunity more accessible for the next generation of international and domestic students. And that’s something I’m proud to be part of.