Late to the Game, but Right on Time: How Water Polo Helped Me Reclaim My Confidence

My name is Myles, and I’m a student-athlete at Lick Wilmerding. I haven’t been a “sports guy” for most of my life. Sure, I played a few here and there—soccer in elementary school, tennis in middle school—but I never felt a deep connection or sense of identity through any of them. They were just things I did, not things I loved. That started to shift when I joined cross country during my freshman year. Over the next two years, I kept exploring, basketball, track but nothing really stuck. That is, until the fall of junior year.

After more than a year of friendly peer pressure from my friends, I finally gave in and decided to try water polo. And honestly? I fell in love with it instantly. It wasn’t just the sport itself, although that was a huge part of it. It was the way playing made me feel about myself. I started seeing progress quickly—faster swimming, better instincts, stronger plays. And for the first time, I didn’t just feel like I was trying to fit into the world of sports—I actually belonged.

That growth on the outside had a huge impact on what was happening inside. As a guy, there’s this constant pressure to be great at something. To be strong. To be impressive. If you’re not “that guy,” it’s easy to start believing you’re not good enough—like you’re less than. That pressure doesn’t always come from others—it creeps in from within. I know I’ve told myself more times than I can count that I’d never measure up, that I was too far behind, that I wasn’t built for this.

But water polo challenged that. Every practice, every little improvement—it chipped away at those lies I had told myself for years. And in their place, something new started to grow: confidence. Water polo didn’t just make me physically stronger—it gave me a space to feel strong. It gave me an outlet for stress, a way to express myself, and most of all, a sanctuary. When school felt overwhelming, when life got hard, the pool became a place I could turn to.

It reminded me that growth is real. That progress is possible. That I am capable of more than I often believe. I may have come to sports later than others, but I found what I needed. Water polo changed my life—and for that, I’ll always be grateful.

Student Athlete Description: I am a 17-year-old junior at Lick Wilmerding High School. I’ve explored different sports throughout my life, but it wasn’t until I joined water polo in my junior year that I truly found my passion. The sport has had a huge impact on my mental health and self-confidence, helping me push past self-doubt and internal pressure. Outside of sports, I care deeply about creating spaces where young men can express themselves freely and honestly. I’m excited to be part of this organization and help others find strength in vulnerability.