told Outsports. “But it does amaze me how something that I once tried so hard to change has now become such an ‘average’ part of my daily life.”A post shared by Matt Lynch (@lynch5_)A post shared by Matt Lynch (@lynch5_)A post shared by Matt Lynch (@lynch5_)Lynch penned his coming out essay in April 2020, right at the onset of COVID.
The piece went viral, prompting him to appear on The Tampon Hall Show and be featured on Forbes‘ “30 under 30.” In the essay, Lynch talks about how he buried his personal feelings and focused on work, forging any opportunities for self-reflection.
COVID forced him to pause, and evaluate what’s truly important in life. As it turns out, happiness was at the top of his list.“I think it’s important for me to be publicly out,” he wrote. “Not only for me and my mental health, but for anyone else out there like me.”After coming out, Lynch’s friends and family instantly noticed his newfound confidence. “I have just this light about me when I walk into a room,” he said in a 2021 interview. “I lift the mood of the entire room.
That was a direct quote of what my sister told me just a couple of weeks ago. From a personal standpoint, I just feel happy.”Though Lynch gained valuable experience working as an assistant at UNC Wilmington and Chowan University in Division II, his job at USC Salkehatchie is all-encompassing.