Page 7 - SWIM PH UAAP Issue 2015_Neat

NEENERATION
With dreams of travelling and teaching younger kids someday, Raegan
draws inspiration from her parents, teammates, and coaches to
become a better person and athlete each day. She admits that studying
in Ateneo while being a swimmer is hard, but she’s aware that time
managements is part of the solution. Her advice for the younger
swimmers? “Don’t beat yourself up too much over a past meet, over
a bad performance (even if you were expected to do really good). I’ve
definitely learned that you shouldn’t dwell on failures, but you should
use them to inspire and motivate yourself to do better. Also, keep
believing in yourself, and always look at the things you can improve on.”

SKYLER L. CLAVERIA

17, UST – College Division
Course: Travel Management
Stroke: Breastroke

“Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90
percent how you take it,” is Skyler Claveria’s
mantra in life, because whenever he thinks
about swimming, he relates it to life. Considered
as one of the breastrokers to watch out for,
Skyler started swimming when he was seven
years old, and immediately fell in love with the
sport. He draws inspiration from his friends
and family who have been there to support and
mold him into the swimmer he is today.
Even though he didn’t win his first competition as
a novice, he pursued his passion because he was
able to interact and meet new friends through the
sport. With a dream of becoming a flight attendant,
travelling and experiencing the world’s different
cultures, Skyler is a focused student-athlete that
requires a lot of discipline.
Today, Skyler has been making waves in the pool with
his impressive times in the breastroke events. When
asked about what inspires him to push himself this UAAP
season, he recalls his experience in Palarong Pambansa
where he suffered from food poisoning and wasn’t able
to perform his intended times. With a good showing in the
Singapore National Swimming Championships in June 2014,
Skyler has set his sights in claiming this season’s Rookie of
the Year award. He hopes that through his performance, he
is able to inspire and lead his team, the UST Tigersharks, to a
podium finish this season.
“Don’t be afraid to fail; be afraid when you didn’t even try.
Learn from your mistakes and use that to help you in the
future,” he says is the greatest lesson he has learned in
swimming and in life, and he hopes to instill this to aspiring
swimmers who look up to him.

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