Second-year student Charlotte Wilson discovered that progress happens in the moments that feel the most uncomfortable, both mentally and physically.
As a member of the UVA Women’s Swimming & Diving team, she’s often tested those boundaries. She explains that her sport is often misunderstood as a purely physical one. In reality, she says, the biggest battles happen internally.
“It’s really easy to get in your head and underperform,” Charlotte says. Learning to manage that mental pressure has been one of the most defining challenges of her college experience so far.
Since arriving at UVA, she’s been cultivating a mindset that helps her push through those tough times.
“You’re more capable than you think you are,” she says. It’s a lesson in self-assurance that didn’t come easily. It was the result of repeated exposure to exhausting practices, high-stakes races, and the constant demand for excellence in the pool.
What’s helped to reframe how she approaches those struggles is to trust the preparation she’s dedicated herself to instead of allowing fear or doubt to take hold. “We do so many hard things in practice,” she says of the repetition that’s helped her build her confidence to face pressure when it counts.
Still, the mental side doesn’t disappear. It evolves. And for Charlotte, one of the most important shifts has been moving away from seeing her effort as an individual enterprise. “When you do it for your team, it’s a different mentality,” the Cherry Hills Village, CO, native explains. That change has made the hardest moments feel more manageable. The whole team is sharing the pressure, rather than a burden she carries alone.
That team-driven environment has also shaped her growth out of the water.
Collaboration is key at the Comm School as well, and Charlotte has found herself leaning on many of the same skills she’s developed as an athlete.
Being part of a team has strengthened her appreciation for other people’s perspectives. “There are so many different personalities on a swim team, so learning how to interact with them really helped me connect with people. Those experiences gave me faith in my classmates, too, because I know that they’re just as committed to McIntire and doing well as I am.” Reflecting on the UVA Women’s Swim team’s six consecutive championship wins, she adds, “What I’ve learned from being on a team that has so much success is that everyone is in it together.”
Charlotte has clearly been shaped by both challenge and community. The mental hurdles, the exacting schedule, and the expectations of competing at a high level have been behind her growth. And through it all, she’s found a deeper sense of confidence, one that’s rooted in perseverance.
Her experiences on Grounds have also deepened her connection to UVA. Representing the University has become a source of pride, whether she’s competing or simply traveling. As she recalls one moment in an airport, wearing her team gear and rushing to catch a flight, a fellow traveler with the same destination quickly trailed behind her through the terminal and told her, “I just knew I had to follow you, Virginia,” pointing to the logo on her backpack. “You were going to get me where I needed to go.”
