From elite German academies to college soccer in the U.S., David Niepel chased the dream with relentless discipline. This is the story of how he redefined success—and is learning to prioritize joy, balance, and identity beyond the game.

Kayla Smith left gymnastics as a teenager—but the transition was anything but quick. The sport shaped her confidence, her identity, and her view of herself in the world. Walking away felt silent and unresolved. It took years, reflection, and a return to movement on her own terms to begin healing and rediscovering who she was without the sport that once defined her.