"Becoming a Forester student-athlete was the best decision I’ve ever made. Looking back, I didn’t realize what an impact choosing a school to swim at would have in shaping my life the way it has."
Kelsie Miller, class of 2015, swam for the Forester swimming and diving team during her four years at Lake Forest College. She is a nine-time Midwest Conference Champion and a former Conference recordholder in the 200- and 800-freestyle and 400-medley relays. She is part of the school record-holding teams for the 200- and 400-medley relays. She also ranks tied-for-third in the 100-yard backstroke and fourth in the 200 backstroke in team history; her name appears on multiple relay top 5 times in team annals. She was a freshman when the women won their Conference title in 2012.
After her freshman and sophomore years on the team, Miller was named Academic All-Midwest Conference, and was also named Scholar All-America Team Honorable Mention her sophomore year. She served as team captain during her senior year.
During her time at the College, Miller majored in economics. She now works as an Inland Marine Underwriter at Travelers Insurance in Brookfield, Wisconsin. She answered a few questions for this Feature about her time as a Lake Forest College student-athlete and gave us a glimpse about what she’s doing now as an alumnus.
Talk a little bit about your experience as a Forester student-athlete.
Becoming a Forester student-athlete was the best decision I’ve ever made. Looking back, I didn’t realize what an impact choosing a school to swim at would have in shaping my life the way it has. Within the first month of being on campus, it was clear the athletic traditions hold strong year over year. Looking around campus on any day, you can see the influence of athletics and the strong pride the school has in every team. Swimming for Vadim was challenging and so rewarding. Waking up four mornings a week for 6 AM practice, going back to the pool every afternoon, and being gone every weekend sounds horrible to most people but for me it was the best four years of my life. I was surrounded by my best friends and felt so supported by Vadim, his coaching staff, and entire school to succeed to my best ability. The support the professors, administration, and the other students have for each other on campus is amazing.
What was the best thing about being a part of the swimming and diving program?
The best part of being on the team is having a second family. The team is a huge family and will have your back on anything. I loved never having to worry about eating, studying, or living alone. My teammates are still my family and biggest supporters. Today, if I needed a shoulder to cry on, help in search of a job, or advice, my teammates would be the first people I’d turn to. I love the tradition that Lake Forest Athletics has, and once a Forester always a Forester.
In what ways did your student-athlete experience prepare you for life outside of college?
Managing stress has been one of the things you learn to do as a student-athlete that has most translated into the working world for me. I feel that I am more prepared than those who were non-athletes when it comes to keeping level-headed and calm during stressful days. Individual sports especially, such a swimming, put so much pressure on you as a young adult and shape how you handle yourself. I think that the pressure, stress, and the responsibility make student-athlete more mature and better workers in the workplace. Since we already spend our whole lives working as a team, student-athletes can use the skills mentioned above to help others. I see these skills translating into my working life and personal life.
What are you doing now? Can you tell us how you came to be at your company and in your current position?
I am currently an Inland Marine Underwriter at Travelers Insurance in Brookfield, Wisconsin. As second semester senior year started, I was really lost about what I wanted to do in the financial field. I had taken Finance 340 in the fall and really enjoyed the prestation from an underwriter and thought it would be a good starting point for me. I applied for the underwriting professional development program at Travelers and landed a job in the Chicago office. I worked there for 3 years before moving up to Milwaukee with Travelers.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I work with Construction companies mostly, one of my favorite parts of my job is getting to go out to jobsites. I’m constantly amazed by how construction sites run. It seems so simple to build a building, but watching everyone work and the equipment moving around the jobsite without accident is incredible.
Is there anything beyond your job that you’re doing that you enjoy, such as volunteering, a hobby, a side hustle? (If so, what are you doing, and how did you get involved?)
My side hustle for the past two years has been coaching at Carroll University. It has been a fun experience to see the other side of swimming and seeing the smile on the athletes face when they accomplish their goals. I spend my free time exploring the state parks with Jeff (my boyfriend) and Crosby (my dog). We also enjoy hitting up the local breweries.
Do you have any advice for current student-athletes?
Work to ensure you have internships and connections with coaches and professors as they will do anything they can to help you. If you are working the best you can in the class and at your sport, it makes life after college so much easier. But make sure you spend time enjoying everything college has to offer. It goes so fast!
What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you were at the College?
I feel like in college you always think you need to know what is next. First you pick a college, then a major, then a career path, and it always feels like you need a plan. I know today that you don’t always have to plan what’s next – some of the best opportunities fall in your lap. It’s also ok to just enjoy what your doing when your doing it. I still hate the question “what is your five-year plan?” While I feel like I should know, I don’t know, and I have realized that’s ok.