Break on Through
A Memoir of Play, Purpose, and Becoming
Break on Through: A Memoir of Play, Purpose, and Becoming
by Bryan VanDoorninck
What if growing up didn't mean giving up wonder?
From Colorado soccer fields to English stadiums, Israeli classrooms to inner-city Tel Aviv, Break on Through is a heart-opening memoir about chasing a dream, losing it, and daring to rebuild a life with deeper roots and brighter play.
Bryan VanDoorninck was supposed to become a professional soccer player. It was the plan—until it wasn't. After a college career left him bruised, burnt out, and unsure of who he was beyond the game, Bryan entered his twenties with no compass and no clue what came next. He bounced from jobs to gigs, drained by the monotony of the 9-to-5 grind, convinced he was just surviving until the weekend.
But somewhere between a marketing job he hated and a plane ticket to Israel he almost didn't book, everything changed. Teaching children. Traveling the world. Reconnecting with movement, imagination, and meaning. Slowly, piece by piece, Bryan came back to life.
Written with warmth, wisdom, and a poetic eye for the details that shape us, Break on Through traces one man's winding journey through identity, grief, burnout, travel, culture, soccer, and spiritual growth. It's a coming-of-age story for anyone who's ever outgrown a dream, questioned their place in the world, or wondered if it's too late to begin again.
This memoir is for:
Former athletes who lost themselves after the game
Educators and coaches who still believe in the power of play
Young adults in search of purpose and passion
Anyone who needs a reminder that joy isn't a luxury—it's a way back to who you are
This isn't just a memoir. It's a wake-up call.
A love letter to curiosity.
And a permission slip to go play.
Bryan VanDoorninck is an experiential educator, youth soccer coach, and the founder of BVADO—a soccer-inspired entertainment company rooted in joy, creativity, and human connection. With an international MBA, a background in sports management, and years of teaching across Israel, England, and the U.S., Bryan's work explores the intersections of play, learning, and identity. His approach blends humor, heart, and holistic development, helping both kids and adults rediscover what makes them feel most alive. Break on Through is his first book.
