April 7, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Jenna Marina
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - As a child, UCF golfer Ayaka Nakayama idolized her grandmother - a traditional Japanese dancer. Nakayama learned the ways of the art and enjoyed dancing in a kimono and decorative face paint.
"Until she passed away, I always thought I would be a traditional Japanese dancer. But now, I'm playing golf here," she exclaimed with a hint of delightful surprise in her voice.
Nakayama originally hails from Kanagawa, Japan, and is UCF's only current international student-athlete from an Asian country.
After giving up on a career as a traditional Japanese dancer in the fourth grade, she picked up golf as a 12-year-old at her father's urging. She quickly learned about the sport's reputation as being one of the most frustrating.
"The golf ball never moved. I couldn't hit the ball," she said with a laugh. "I didn't want to do it. I thought it was such a boring sport. Now, I just can challenge myself. Golf is still a team sport, but it's still about me and I can test myself. It makes me happy."
By the time she was a junior in high school, her affection for the game swayed her into making a life-changing decision. Venturing out on her own, she moved to South Carolina to attend the International Junior Golf Academy.
When she made the move, she didn't speak a word of English. Understandably, she questioned if she made the right decision, but with her parents' support -- even from halfway across the world - she knew she had to seize the opportunity.
"I just wanted to try and experience something else," she said." I didn't know if it was a good decision or not. I couldn't even think, I had to survive. Every day was so busy studying and playing golf. After a year, then I knew what I was doing and getting better."
Her younger sister now attends the same academy where Nakayama spent three years before she was recruited by UCF head coach Emily Marron to come play for the Knights. Nakayama said it was an easy decision to make because she felt Marron had her best interests at heart.
"She's so supportive and I can trust her. She cares," Nakayama said. "I like her personality. And I like it here."
The public relations major has appeared in seven events for the Knights this spring. Every time she steps on to a golf course, she carries a little piece of her home with her.
The ritual she performs before and after every round of golf was instilled in her by her father. She puts her hand to her temple and says a silent, general thank you to the universe and to the course.
"I say to the golf course, `Thank you for this opportunity for me here.' Because I am just so thankful for who I am today," she said. "Everyone supports me here, especially my mom and dad, and my coach. Who I am is from everyone's support."