For many athletes, competing at the next level is a heavily desired goal. For high school senior soccer player Maya Myles, that goal is now within her reach. After years of consistent training, overcoming injuries, and maintaining her focus, Myles has turned that ambition into reality. This fall, the Arcadia High senior will continue her athletic and academic career at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, competing at the Division I level.
“I’ve wanted to play D1 and go pro since I was like seven. I’ve always played soccer, and over time I just started loving it more and more,” said Myles.
That early focus quickly turned into steady progress. By committing to one sport at a young age, Myles was able to build her skills over time and develop a strong foundation. What started as routine training became something more serious as she began to stand out among her peers and see consistent improvement in her performance.
“I realized I was really good at it; that pushed me to want to play in college and make something out of it,” said Myles.
Eventually as her confidence grew, so did her expectations for herself. Her practices started becoming even more serious, and her approach to the game shifted from simply playing to actively improving. That mindset helped her stay consistent even as the level of competition increased. That consistency carried over into both environments, as she competed during the school season at Arcadia while also playing year-round club soccer with LA Surf, where the higher level of competition continued to push her forward.
But her progress didn’t come without setbacks. Injuries became one of the biggest challenges she had to face, both physically and mentally. Myles shared that one of her most serious injuries was when she suffered a groin injury at just 14 years old. The injury left her unable to walk for about a month and left her sidelined from running for several more months.
“The biggest thing is getting hurt; you’re sitting there watching other people do what you know you can do, but you can’t. That messes with you mentally,” said Myles.
The recovery process was long and frustrating for Myles, and she had to undergo long intense physical therapy daily. Still, she stayed committed and worked her way back. Despite those setbacks, Myles returned stronger, both physically and mentally. Experiences like that forced her to develop resilience and gave her a better understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level.
Myles’ ambition extends beyond the field and into the classroom. She actually graduated early, finishing school in December to create more time to focus on training and preparing for college, which is an impressive accomplishment and reflects the same drive she shows in soccer. By graduating early, she gave herself the flexibility to train more, showing that her commitment isn’t just about athletics but also about making smart decisions for academics.
“I just got used to it; practice is part of my day, and I find time to get my work done…it is just on my own time now,” said Myles.
In college Myles plans to major in business management to better understand how businesses operate, with the long-term goal of owning sports therapy businesses rather than just working in them. While her primary focus is still continuing her soccer career and potentially going pro, she is also thinking ahead, especially in a field where she hopes to bring more diversity and representation.
“If I don’t go pro, I want to go into sports therapy and own businesses in that field [because] there’s not a lot of diversity in that space, and I want to change that,” said Myles.
For now, her focus remains on continuing her development at the college level. When asked what piece of advice she would offer to underclassmen wanting to commit to a sport in college, Myles emphasized making every moment count.
“If you’re gonna take the time out of your day to go and practice and work, take the time and make it worth it,” said Myles. Go Panthers!
