How can I tell Laravel to look for public_html folder and not public folder on SHARED HOSTING?

I am trying to update profile picture on a small laravel app but server returns 500 SERVER ERROR due to wrong directory structure. I have done some googling but most answers were 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 years old. I'm using laravel 8. Here's my controller....

Thanks

      public function updateAvatar()
    {
        //  dd(request('avatar'));
         $theUser = Auth::user();

         request()->validate([
             'avatar' => 'image|max:1000'
         ]);
 
         // File upload
         if (request()->hasFile('avatar')){

            $path = request()->file('avatar')->storeAs('uploads', $request->file('avatar'));
 
             $profileImage = Image::make(public_path('storage/' . $path))->fit(40,40);   
              
                       // On the server: I have public_html/storage

             $profileImage->save();
         }
         else{
             $path = $theUser->avatar;
         }
   
         $theUser->update([
             'avatar' => $path,
             ]);
         
             
 
         request()->session()->flash(
             'message', 'Your avatar was successfully updated.'
         );
 
         return redirect()->back();
    }