Archery, volleyball, chess - they were all passions of a young Kinga Szemik. Football, obviously, ended up winning her full attention, but the 27-year-old likes to focus on herself during her time away from keeping out the Barclays Women’s Super League’s top strikers.
The Poland international joined West Ham United women’s team in the summer, which saw England become the fourth country the shot-stopper has played in after her spells in her home country, the USA and France.
The goalkeeper was only 18 years old when she made the move to the States where she balanced completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with playing college football for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
While far away from her home country, Szemik regularly called her family - something she still does now. Her family are tight-knit as she grew up as one of eleven children, and was inspired to get into football by her six brothers.
“I was just drawn to doing whatever they were doing, which was mostly playing sports,” she said, in an interview with the Mirror.
“I always enjoyed running around with them so much. I then joined a boys club, I was the only girl there.
“I just feel like you have to be passionate from the first time you start playing because looking back at everything that I've gone through and all of the steps that I had to take to get to this point, I just know that if it wasn't for the passion, I probably wouldn't have made it.
“Playing football was always my dream and I think that drove me through all of those stages of life.”
Fast forward nine years from her time in America, and Szemik is thriving in Claret and Blue in the WSL. The No1 has started for Rehanne Skinner in every league match this term and is growing in confidence as the Hammers’ first-choice shot-stopper.
At home to Brighton & Hove Albion in February, whom the women’s team defeated 3-1 thanks to goals from Shekiera Martinez, Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi, Szemik made four crucial stops - all far from routine - and herself admitted that was her best performance so far in an Irons shirt.
A game later, this time away at Arsenal, she made a staggering nine saves against the Gunners, which was followed by another seven against Manchester City three days later.
An abundance of concentration is required between the sticks, and therefore - combined with the pressures that come with playing in England’s top flight - it is understandable that Szemik likes to spend her downtime away from football.
“I think one of the things that I enjoy the most is just spending time calling my family, or going for a walk, trying to reset my mind and not overstimulate it,” she said.
“I used to be in an archery team. I also played volleyball and for a chess club. I was doing a lot of things when I was a kid, which is cool because, in the end, I chose what I liked the most - and it wasn't just put on me when I was a child.
“We’re based in London, but I don't really like big crowds because for me, they don't relax me. I can go there from time to time, but it wouldn't be my go-to place in my free time.
“If I could go and do something more proactive like go on a hike, or listen to music, watch a movie, or read a book, I’d much rather do something like that.
“One of the things I've learned that has helped me during each stage of my career is time management. I've realised that you need to find the balance with things and it helps you to be more efficient as a player.
“So, for example, when I was in the USA and I had to study a lot and play, I always tried to find time just for myself to do something for myself. I'm trying to do exactly the same thing when I'm playing professionally.
“I train twice a day and then I go back home and I make sure that I either do some yoga, or call my family, or go for a walk, something that I know will just affect me in a positive way.
“That's for sure something I've learned because I am a perfectionist and I love to work hard. It took a while for me to understand that where there is a balance, there is the most efficiency.”
Another thing that Szemik devotes her time to is completing her Certificate in Football Management with UEFA - something she is incredibly passionate about as she looks to grow the women’s game further.
As mentioned, Szemik first started playing football with an all-boys team and she wants to continue to make a change.
“As a player, you understand there's a lot of problems within the world of women's football, and a lot of challenges and struggles that we face every day,” she said. “I'm aware of those, but I was curious to see what those problems look like from an actual insight. What causes them? How can we fix them?
“I think there’s a lot of people in federations in general, especially on the women's side, that didn’t play football, which I think blocks us from progressing further when it comes to women's football.
“So in my head, I thought I have some time that I could probably use in a way that could be helpful for me in my future. I understand we also need a change in people's mentality.
“I also might try to spend some time helping women's football in Poland, and possibly working in the Federation or somewhere else. I feel like going through that course will help me understand the problems better and possibly find better solutions.
“I have so much enthusiasm because I always have little Kinga somewhere inside of me that was running around with the ball with her brothers.”
