The 2022 Senior Perspectives is the 17th in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of teams at Harvard have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Harvard.

Kyle Massimilian
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Concentration: Government
House Affiliation: Leverett

There are two aspects of being a student-athlete at Harvard that resonate most with me. First is the lessons. Being a student at a school like Harvard teaches you many things, but the lessons learned from collegiate athletics cannot be quantified. Playing lacrosse taught me how to be tough and resilient in mind and body, and how to confront my fears and act in the face of them. It showed me how to lead and be led – teach as well as learn. I learned how to deal with enduring adversity and persist despite it. Most importantly, it taught me how to devote my energy and passion to a cause greater than myself. These principles are some of the most valuable tools that I will use for the rest of my life.

Second is the people. Perhaps a more profound aspect than the first, the love I found in other teammates was an incredible gift. I took a year off from school to have more time with this team, and I would do it a million times over. Playing through the pandemic allowed me to share a locker room with many distinct and extraordinary people. Our team my senior season was almost entirely different from years prior. Our ability to quickly mesh with unfamiliar faces and build strong, lasting bonds was seamless. This is the beauty of a dedicated team. Our beliefs and backgrounds converged toward excelling on and off the field. We push day in and day out towards a righteous goal. As a result, we became a family with unrivaled camaraderie. We lean on each other in difficult times and celebrate our shared triumphs. I will always be grateful to have spent time with these guys whom I love.

Many people never get the opportunity to be part of something larger than themselves. Playing lacrosse at Harvard has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will hold each person in our program ­– past, present and future – to the highest regard. Thank you to the coaches and teammates who helped me struggle and fight to become a better version of myself. It is the lessons, people and esteemed institution that is Harvard that makes Harvard lacrosse special. I will forever miss this time in my life. Coach Byrne, Coach Bergman, Hutchinson and Corrigan consistently give their best each day to make our program excellent, and this is extremely admirable. I am excited to watch Harvard lacrosse become among the best in the country.