Meet Jake The ELDEST
Jake — also known as Kunzie — is 16, loud in the best way, and basically built for good vibes. He’s hyper, funny (often corny on purpose), and somehow manages to be that rare kind of teen who’s genuinely friendly to everyone. The result? He’s ridiculously likeable… even when he’s being an absolute menace.Jake’s big loves are sport, gaming, anime, and design. He plays netball, basketball, volleyball and soccer — with soccer and volleyball being his favourite to play, even if it’s mostly been “for fun” so far. When he’s not running around a court, he’s on the PS5 or Switch, usually playing Fortnite. And if you hear intense dramatic music coming from his room, it’s probably Jujutsu Kaisen or Attack on Titan.He’s also creative in a very “Jake” way — he loves designing clothes on Procreate, and you can absolutely picture him one day having his own brand. Travel-wise, his favourite place he’s been is Japan, and he’s still not over it (fair). He has ADHD and is bisexual, and he’s happiest when he’s being himself — fully, loudly, and without apology. He’s also had a taste of social media success, making TikToks with his ex-long-term boyfriend, in the past and growing a following. He’d love to grow his social media presents again one day after taking a break, which makes Five on the Fly basically perfect for him.And if you ever wonder why Mum is always checking everyone has “their shoes”… it’s partly because Jake knows what it feels like to lose everything, and our family doesn’t take the little stuff for granted. In this crew, keeping track of the basics is a love language — and Jake is one of the reasons.
Early Life
Jake’s story starts with stability — he was in a long-term foster care placement from a young age. But due to illness and major changes within that family, he had to move, and his life shifted in a huge way. In a very real sense, he had to start again — and that experience shaped him. Although having lived with us when he was six, Jake officially took our last name and was finally adopted in late 2024. Jake said "for the first time in my life, I have found as sense of belonging and I feel like I'm an actual family member. I don't even feel adopted."Jake tried guitar at one point… and yeah, it didn’t really stick (RIP). But sport did. He’s had some big wins along the way — Best and Fairest in netball, plus MVP and Most Improved in basketball. He also did Scouts, where he stepped up as Assistant Patrol Leader, which is basically proof that even when he’s chaotic, he’s also capable and trusted.
School
Jake does home-schooling, and he likes the freedom — it’s flexible, it works around life, and it suits his rhythm. The downside is it doesn’t feel like a “normal school setting,” which means he doesn’t see friends as much, and that part can be a bit rough.
ValuesJake is big on family, honesty, and trust. He’s respectful, protective of the people he loves, and has a solid internal moral compass — even if it’s occasionally delivered through jokes and dramatic reactions.
Work & Future
Jake currently works at a pub, learning real-life skills like customer service, responsibility, and how to stay polite when people are being painful.In the future, he can see himself heading into fashion design, becoming a disability support worker, or working as a high school PE teacher — basically anything that mixes people, energy, and a bit of creativity.
Looking Ahead
Jake is hyped to go all over the world, experience everything, and live the kind of stories people normally only talk about. Starting a new life in Vietnam is a big change, but he’s hoping it includes one very important thing: surfing.
Pre Epic Adventure Country Count: 11
Post Epic Adventure Country Count: 40
