ADAPTING to difficult situations and remaining positive in the face of adversity - they are qualities that have served Cameron DeJong well during his soccer career.
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Now they are qualities which are helping him to adapt to one of the more difficult periods of his career.
The Californian defender was one of the star recruits for Western NSW FC ahead of the 2020 National Premier Leagues 4 season.
But soon after arriving in Bathurst and before he had chance to play for his new club, the season was suspended due to the coronavirus.
"It's definitely not how I pictured this situation going, but you just have to roll with the punches in a sense. You have to make a choice, you can either be bummed about the situation or make the most of it," DeJong said.
"For me, I'm trying to make the most of it by growing my business and training even harder. Hopefully if they can get the season up and running again, I'll be bigger and faster and stronger than when I first got here.
"It's good that I'm able to keep busy and keep from going stir-crazy."
That sort of personal motivation is something DeJong prides himself on and it is a quality he wants to foster in other sportspeople as well.
He has been working on doing that by adjusting his strength and conditioning business so that his programs adhere to social distancing requirements.
"During this down time I've tried to focus on building up my personal training business, that's what I do back home, working in sports performance and helping athletes," he said.
"I've started an online training program that allows people to work with me in a satellite sense. Obviously we can't meet in person at the moment, but no matter where you are ... I've designed a program you can do wherever you are with whatever you have from the comfort of your own home."
DeJong can be contacted via his website at https://camerondejong.square.site/