高清福利片

鈥淵ou're not going to grow unless you push yourself. So that's what I've done. I want to do the most that I can, while I can,鈥� said Clare Wheeler, a 25-year-old University of Sydney graduate and international football player.

Clare grew up in Newcastle and discovered football at 10 years-old when a friend started playing. Not long after she enrolled at Hunter Sports High - a culturally diverse school that provides students with development pathways to elite-level sport.

By 13 years-old she was selected for the state youth league, and by 15 years-old she was playing for the A-League national team, the Newcastle Jets. She has since gone on to play for the Matildas representing Australia, the Danish UEFA Women鈥檚 Champions League club, Fortuna Hj酶rring, and most recently, she signed with UK super league club, Everton.

As if that wasn鈥檛 enough, she also managed to complete a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney.

Clare鈥檚 long-standing mantra has been 鈥榡ust give things a crack鈥� and she has consistently strived to push herself beyond her comfort zone.

Being naturally more drawn to sports, a university degree wasn鈥檛 always on the cards for Clare. At school she needed additional support with traditional subjects like English.

鈥淚t took me several years to really hit my stride with education. I wouldn't say I was struggling, but I definitely wasn't academically inclined,鈥� she said.

But with the support of the school and encouragement from her parents, Clare went on to earn some of the best marks in her year.

Though she had found her footing both academically and athletically, when Clare was entering her final years of high school, her mum became seriously ill. She passed away just two years later.

鈥淚 had around 30 percent attendance in maths in my final year with everything going on, but the teachers were great. They understood what was going on,鈥� Clare said.

Her teachers also recommended she explore E12 Scholarship opportunities, which support students who have been at a significant educational disadvantage in gaining entry to the University of Sydney by considering their achievements beyond their ATAR. The scheme provides recipients with an early offer, a reduced entry score, and a scholarship to support them during their studies.

鈥淲ithout the E12 program I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to get into the University of Sydney,鈥� Clare said. 鈥淚 got an ATAR of 90 and I think Commerce at Sydney required 95. The financial support was also critical for me to make the move from Newcastle to Sydney.鈥�

Being able to buy the necessary supplies for her degree 鈥� like a secondhand laptop that she still has today 鈥� meant that Clare was able to begin her studies confident that she had everything she needed, without adding any financial pressure on her family.

鈥淛ust having the right equipment helps you feel like you fit in. Our family shared a computer and one laptop, so rather than take the laptop away from my brother who was in Year 11, I could buy my own,鈥� Clare added.

Coming from regional NSW, the community aspect of the E12 program was also vital in making new connections and finding friends.

鈥淭he financial help made living in Sydney a possibility, but I was also part of the E12 Facebook group and other programs, which were so helpful,鈥� Clare said.

With achievements like Clare鈥檚, you could be forgiven for thinking she was readily self-assured, but she credits her successes with a belief in continuous growth and improvement.

鈥淕oing to Sydney Uni and being a small fish in a big pond was a little bit daunting, but then I knew from my past experiences that if I just gave things time and kept on with it, I would get it,鈥� Clare said.

鈥淚 remember getting my first high distinction and I was like, 鈥極h, I'm at Sydney Uni and I was able to get this result, that's incredible鈥�.鈥�

Clare is currently based in Manchester in the UK, where she plays for Everton as a permanent signing, but she first left Australia in 2021, when she got the opportunity to join Danish football club, Fortuna Hj酶rring. She knew that moving to Denmark would put her back into the 鈥榮mall fish, big pond鈥� scenario but took it as an opportunity to grow.

鈥淭here was definitely an adjustment period when I moved overseas, especially to Denmark where there鈥檚 a language difference, but challenging yourself is where you see the most growth. It can be uncomfortable, and constantly feeling like that can take its toll, but I know I'm not going to regret putting myself out there,鈥� Clare said.聽

While Clare is passionate about football, she鈥檚 also aware that sporting careers don鈥檛 last forever, which is one of the reasons she chose to undertake a Commerce degree.

鈥淚've had a job ever since I was 15. It鈥檚 important for me to be more than just one thing. Eventually, I will join the workforce after my career in football, so uni and getting some work experience was part of a longer-term plan so that I didn鈥檛 have to start at square one,鈥� Clare said.

鈥淎fter university, I worked at Macquarie Bank in financial assistance, and I could relate to the people I was helping because my family had gone through something similar. It was challenging, but very rewarding.鈥�

The assistance Clare received with her studies has resonated throughout her life. When she鈥檚 not training, she also works with a number of charities, including Kit Aid in Australia, which redistributes old football kits to communities in need, and her local food bank in the United Kingdom.

鈥淛ust hearing what people are going through with the cost-of-living crisis, it strikes a chord with me, so if I can donate my time, then I will. It's important to me to give back while I'm pursuing my career,鈥� Clare said.

Clare鈥檚 biggest learning through her personal and professional life, and advice to others, is to trust yourself and just give things a go.

鈥淢ake sure that you remind yourself that you don鈥檛 always get instant gratification and things may take more time than others,鈥� Clare said. 鈥淭he most important thing is that you just keep putting your best foot forward and try to have fun while you do it.鈥�

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