Page 27 - BEQ Magazine Iss 20 Fall 2021 WebRev09272021

The Courage to

Be Vulnerable

By MELISSA LOWERY

When I sat down to talk with Schuyler Bailar in ailar’s origin story is well-documented. He
mid-August, it was with the intention of finding Bstarted swimming before he would walk, began
out what this talented young man would do next. competing at the age of 7 and by age 10 he was com-
At just 25 years old, his list of accomplishments is peting in the Junior Olympics. By 13, he qualified
impressive - he is a Harvard graduate, a champion for national level competition, and less than two
swimmer who competed in U.S. Nationals and made years later was ranked one of the top 20 15-year-old
history as the first transgender athlete to compete breast-stroke swimmers in the United States.
in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team. He He competed in U.S Nationals, qualified as an
is an advocate for trans rights as well as those of All-American in the 100-yard breaststroke and set
other marginalized communities, a diversity, equity a national age group record in the 400-yard medley
and inclusion consultant, a mentor, a public speaker relay at the U.S. Winter National Championships
and an educator. In September, he added “published in 2013. Among his teammates was future Olympic
novelist” to his CV. gold medalist Katie Ledecky.
When I ask him about future plans, both short- After struggling with body image and self esteem
and long-term, he is brutally honest. “I don’t have an throughout his middle and high school years, Bailar
answer,” he says, calmly. At first, I am surprised, given took a gap year after high school to deal with those
how well he has branded himself and his work so far. issues. In the process, he realized that he was trans-
Bailar’s expression is serious, professional on the other gender. Blessed with supportive parents who embraced
end of the Zoom connection. He seems like someone their son, his main concern was whether he would be
who would have a step-by-step plan to reach specific able to swim competitively if he transitioned. In high
goals and milestones. It’s easy to forget that I’m talking school, he was recruited by most of the Ivy League uni-
to someone in his mid-20s, expecting him to have his versities and eventually committed to Harvard. When
life figured out. Is it weird to have people asking about he realized he was trans, Bailar thought he would have
your long-term plans when you’re only 25? to choose between swimming for the Harvard women’s
“Yeah, it is,” he replies. “In the past when people team or living authentically. Instead, men’s swimming
asked me that, I would have this rush of emotion coach Kevin Tyrell offered Bailar a place on his team,
where I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I should know and I leaving the decision with the incoming freshman.
don’t. I don’t have a five-year plan or a 10-year plan. Bailar chose to be his true self and joined the men’s
I’m failing as a business owner.’” team, securing himself a place in history in the process.
So why does he seem okay with answering “I
don’t know” when I ask him now? fter graduating from Harvard with a degree
“The reason I’m answering this question — and Ain Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary
I haven’t actually shared this publicly before — is Psychology in 2019, Bailar briefly worked for a pri-
that I don’t have an answer and I think that’s okay. vate firm, teaching emotional intelligence skills at a
I think that a lot of people don’t have answers to finance company.
what they want to do next year, in five years or “In theory, the job was great,” he says. “It just
tomorrow,” he says. wasn’t feeding my current passion.”

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