When Will Glass arrived at William & Mary, he was searching for more than a place to swim. The Midlothian, Va., native wanted a university that fit both his academic ambition and his athletic drive.
 
"(William & Mary) was a mixture of academics and athletics," he said. "It gave me what I thought I wanted academically, which is a liberal arts education."
 
That balance was clear from his first visit. Glass remembers walking the campus with head coach Nate Kellogg for hours, touring the pool and soaking in the atmosphere that would soon become his second home. "It just seemed like home," he said. "It was the perfect mix of academics and athletics, but it also had that kind of intangible piece that you can't find everywhere."
 
Now, after four years with William & Mary men's swimming, Glass can see how those first impressions turned into a defining college experience—one shaped by discipline, service, and a community that pushes him to be his best.
 
Finding His Path in the Classroom
 
Glass came to college with a long-held interest in law, inspired by parents who both practice it and a childhood memory of his father's robing ceremony as a judge. Still, he didn't expect the path to be perfectly straight. "I kept coming back to the law, and I credit a lot of the William & Mary education for that. I was able to build the confidence to pursue law because of the curriculum here."
 
The turning point came as he embraced the breadth of a liberal arts curriculum, discovering confidence through rigorous writing and public speaking opportunities. "I think I've written probably 300 pages of academic writing in college," he said. "It's given me the confidence that I can do that as a career."
 
That growth affirmed his early dream. "It's probably been a dream of mine since I was like eight," Glass said. "Coming to school here has given me an opportunity to grow more confident in my abilities, which made it even easier for me to see myself as a lawyer."
 
On Friday, Glass will receive his degree from William & Mary after majoring in government and history.
 
Discipline in and Out of the Pool
 
For Glass, swimming has always been about more than times on the clock. It's the structure that organizes his days and the mindset that shapes his goals. "It comes down to two things: discipline and hard work," he said. "You have to have a sense of being where your feet are in the things you do."
 
That discipline started long before college, with early-morning practices and a steady climb through his club program in Richmond. "When I started swimming seriously at 12, I wasn't very good," he said. "I worked really hard every single day, and eventually I got to the highest group."
 
At William & Mary, he found a team culture that matches his values. "I think the amazing thing about our team is the shared pain of practices or the shared experiences of maybe lacking some of the other facilities that other teams have," Glass said. "If you and I are doing something really hard together, and I know you're not going to give in like I'm not, that's a bond that's unbreakable."
 
Glass, who has been selected to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll every semester on campus, scored in seven events at the CAA Championship meet throughout his career. His name also appears among the top 12 in school history in both the 1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyle events.
 
Leading and Serving Others
 
Beyond the pool and classroom, Glass has made service and leadership central to his college experience. As president of W&M's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), he's helped organize campus service initiatives and represent student-athlete voices in important conversations. "It's been so rewarding," he said. "It's not often you get to lead an organization, and I'm very privileged to have done that."
 
One of his favorite events is Holly Days, a partnership with the House of Mercy that provides gifts, winter coats, and meals to local families in need. "You hear about Christmas spirit," he said. "I've never felt more in the holiday spirit than after that event."
 
Glass also serves as the student representative on the Board of Visitors' athletics committee—a role that's put him in rooms with university leaders and distinguished alumni. "It's valuable to have a student-athlete's voice on that committee," he said. "Being in that environment has given me confidence in being in those types of rooms."
 
Looking Ahead
 
As he prepares for graduation, Glass is choosing between top law schools and thinking about a future in the courtroom. "I think I want to do trial work," he said. "I like talking to people. I like being on my feet and public speaking."
 
Wherever he goes next, the lessons from William & Mary will stay with him—the discipline learned in early-morning practices, the confidence built through writing and leadership, and the bonds formed with teammates who share the same drive. "This team has had success and will continue to have success because of that culture," he said. "It's a bunch of men and women who deeply care about what they're doing and deeply care about each other."