As humans, we are all born with a flair for certain things. For you, it could be an art form like music or painting, or you could be a natural with a pen. If you're lucky enough to discover them, these start turning into hobbies you resort to after a stressful day. But what if they became something more? For me, that hobby was sports, and that something more was finding my identity in a new land we call Australia.

For as long as I can remember (or so I’ve been told), I was an active kid with tons of energy. This running around and love for the outdoors needed some discipline and structure to become something valuable, and that’s how sports became my answer. After trying my hand at athletics, cricket, and football, I discovered table tennis when I was eight. And I’ve spent all my life sticking to it in one way or another. So naturally when it came time to pick a city to study, I set course for the sporting capital of the world, Melbourne. 

It is common knowledge that international students, far from the land they call home, often initially find it hard to settle in and create a life for themselves. Necessities like food, accommodation, and travel suddenly become huge concerns that otherwise would be taken care of easily back home. I moved to Melbourne in February 2020 as a 22-year-old. Things became a little tougher than usual because I arrived just before what we now remember as the global pandemic. 

Moving to a new world during the pandemic made me realise the value of socialising. I volunteered at a local club to coach some children in table tennis and eventually landed a job. I never imagined monetising a habit that was previously simply for leisure, but here I was, creating a new reality for myself by employing sports as the medium. 

I knew, at some level even before landing in Melbourne, I did want to coach table tennis and stay connected to the sport that acted as a guiding force throughout my life in some way or another. The little spark I felt as a child when I played table tennis has now transformed into confidence,  sharper thinking patterns, and a habit of dedicated perseverance as I've grown older. These were gifts I was certain I wanted to pass on to other young minds as well, for they changed the very essence of who I was. 

It also helped me gain employment and pay for my living, so if anyone is at that stage of being unsure how to navigate life upon arriving, here are some of my learning I would offer in the hope they help: 

- Just ask: It's your best shot at landing a gig or role that you want or simply need. Get past the fear of putting yourself out there and ask. You will never have the chance if you reject yourself. The worst they can say is 'no'.

- Network with like-minded people: Once you break the ice and are more comfortable making conversations, look for thoughtful conversations with similar people. 

- No matter what you do or where you are, it's important to be humble, genuine, and to keep an open mind. Life always finds ways to surprise you (and take you out of your comfort zone).

The more experience you gain, the more responsibility and opportunity you're given to grow. From coaching just one child, I was soon running sessions teaching 30 children. Over time, I started learning how to plan and execute decisions and how to be a good leader and motivate others, skills I'm confident will help me build something of my own. 

My favourite part of it all is how deciding and sticking to nurturing a small hobby transformed my life - and how it isn't even my main profession! As a Business Analyst today, my sporting ambitions do well to cultivate all facets of my life. We dream of big things and wait to be something big before we act. But I've realised it's the small steps we take that compound to make a difference. And even though I’m quite early in my journey, I’m excited to build forward because as I've learnt, life has a habit of surprising you. 

Rahul is a Business/Data Analyst by profession and a mental health advocate, volunteer, blogger, sports coach, and a SAARI writer by passion. You can connect with him via Linkedin.