Nov. 30, 2007
SAN DIEGO - In celebration of Girls and Women in Sports Day, goaztecs.com will be catching up with former Aztecs to see where life has taken them after graduation. Jennifer Miller, a four-year letter winner in volleyball, has shared her experiences as a collegiate athlete and the successes she has achieved in life.
Jennifer was a valuable part of the Aztec volleyball team from 1989-1992. She earned first-team all-conference honors, and made the top ten lists for her single-season best of 140 assists, as well as a career best of 941 digs. After graduating with a degree in public administration, Jennifer started working at Sea World, learning to be an Aviculturist. She has continued to work at Sea World for 13 years and is now the Senior Aviculturist.
Why did you choose to go to SDSU?
I was recruited by over 70 Division I schools from all over the country. I had two reasons at the time for choosing to go to SDSU. I wanted to be an impact player for a top 25 volleyball team and SDSU had a top undergraduate business school, which I wanted to major in at the time.
What did it mean for you to be a part of the San Diego State athletic community?
Being a student-athlete meant a lot to me for many reasons. Moving away from home for the first time to a big school was scary, but knowing that I was part of an instant family made it easier. One of my favorite memories as a freshman was walking through campus on my way to class and seeing so many people I did not know. A student, unknown to me, came up to me and said, "Hey you're Jen Miller, I saw you play. You are really good. Good luck this season." That was an amazing feeling, that even at a school of over 35,000 undergrads at the time, I didn't feel alone. I was so lucky to be a member of the athletic community and most of the students at SDSU didn't have that opportunity.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I care for a variety of birds from penguins, flamingos, pelicans, and parrots, but the majority of my 13 years at Sea World has been with penguins. I love my job! It's a very physical job, I get to get dirty and be outside, and everyday is different. But the part I like the best is educating people about the animals I work with, either by tours that come to the park or traveling with penguins to different city and promoting Sea World.
How do you feel that being an SDSU athlete contributed to your success in life?
I think about how my life would be so different if I never played at SDSU. Being a student-athlete taught me how to get things done. From the moment I stepped on that campus I had a lot of responsibilities that most students didn't have. I had to juggle keeping a starting position on the team and working hard in school. I believed there was no word for failure, on or off the court. That motto continues today in my work life, I will always find a way to win. It might not be as overt as when I was in college, but that competitive nature that was developed as a SDSU athlete has helped me rise to the top of my field today, which I am very proud of.
What is your best memory from SDSU athletics?
One game that really stands out was in my sophomore year. We made it to the first round of the NCAA and were up against BYU, who we had lost to earlier in the season. We had a few parents there to cheer us on, but not the home crowd that we loved. But as we were warming up, we looked up and saw the SDSU cheer team yelling and screaming. They drove to BYU to surprise us for the match. Their support helped us to win our match and make it to the Sweet 16.
What advice do you have for girls and women in sports today?
I'm happy to see how athletics continues to help young girls improve their self-image and self-esteem. My advice would be "it's ok to let them see you sweat!"
What differences do you see in women's athletics now versus when you participated?
I think the major difference is the higher respect for the accomplishments of women. There used to be more "yeah, she is good....for a girl", but now you don't hear that as much. We still have a road to travel for true equality but we are going in the right direction.