Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

LEXINGTON, Va. April 8, 2025 — Her love of math and science propelled Jillian Sisk ’27 to pursue a STEM major. At first, she thought veterinary school would be the right path, but found it wasn’t the right fit for her. Instead, she discovered engineering, which pointed her to Virginia Military Institute.  

"I started out as a mechanical engineering major my first semester and realized that was not for me, and I switched to civil and I loved it,” she explained. “I love the teachers. They are so nice and they're always making sure that you'll succeed. They know your name. They know your face. And civil engineering is just so interesting because it's you're directly working with people.” 

She said choosing civil engineering as her major allowed her to see the direct effect her work could have on the community. She’d be working with the infrastructure of the state, for example. 

"I'm doing things for people — the water, the bridges, the roadways,” she said. “It's a serious job, because if you build something and it breaks, that would be bad.” 

Sisk was recruited to VMI for track and field as a long-distance runner. She hadn’t heard of the Institute until then.  

“Everyone was welcoming and kind, and they answered all my questions,” she said about her first visit. “I met so many people that seemed like they'd be the type to uplift you if you're having a hard day or a bad day. And I just felt like it was a family.”

She’s also found that family within her teammates, who offer her support on and off the track. Sisk, who runs the 3K, 5K, the mile, and the steeplechase race, got into track and field in middle school when she was looking for a sport to play. She said the minimal equipment was an incentive, especially for a new sport to try out. Turns out, she was a natural. 

“I just loved it. I love the competition. I love the discipline it requires to get out there and do it every day,” she admitted. “I love the process of training.” 

She’s dedicated to training, which takes up a good portion of her day.  

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more. 

She’s up just after 6 a.m. when she grabs breakfast to-go and heads back to her room.  

“I'll check to see what type of homework I have for that day, and I'll make myself a list of things I want to get done,” she said.  

With class until just after noon, she has time to tidy up her quarters, check-in with teachers, and catch up on work before she heads to practice at 3:30 p.m. By 7:30 p.m. it’s dinner time and the more studying. Her days usually wrap up around 10 or 11 p.m. 

With 18 and a half credits, it can get overwhelming at times. During her rat year, Sisk admitted she struggled to stay on top of her studies and saw her grades slip.  

“School always came really easy for me in high school, I never really studied or anything, but you have to study here,” she stated. 

Talking with her mom, her roommates, classmates, and teammates offers good stress relief for Sisk. She said if there’s any time she feels overwhelmed or needs to talk, they’re there. Running offers solace for Sisk.  

“If I'm ever having a really bad day, usually going out for a run helps that a lot. I love running. It makes me feel happy that at the end of the day, no matter what, I have running,” she said. “I can run and that's one of my strengths and it makes me feel good about myself. I can go out there and just run eight miles and it feels like nothing.” 

She has the mental fortitude thanks to enduring long distances, which can be applicable to her life at VMI and after. 

“I think that they are really preparing me for the future, with the busyness and the strict deadlines,” Sisk explained. “I'm way better at planning things.” 

From last year alone, she’s seen a difference within herself in how she is able to use time wisely. 

"It's made me have to be more of a self-advocate,” she stated. "If I'm struggling with something in class, I have to be brave enough to ask for help or go to office hours. You have to be able to stand up for yourself. Because at the end of the day, it's your education ... you’ve got to be able to do that for yourself.” 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE