Boot Camp// military gym rats


SOMETHING GOOD


Penn’s Lydia Miller, Navy ROTC, felt need to serve after 9/11


Lydia Miller was 8 years old and in


fourth grade when terrorists attacked Sept. 11, 2001. She was stunned, angry and sad. That day flipped her world upside down.


Miller does not have family in the


military, but with two younger sisters, she felt compelled to protect them, whether that meant contributing to research that protected the livelihood of Americans or joining the military. She opted for the latter — eventually. “I was brought up with the idea of needing to contribute something good to society, and I’ve always been very patriotic,” said Miller, a fifth-year senior defender at Penn. “After I committed, when my mom and I were driving up from Virginia, we passed the signs for Annapolis, Md., and I said to my mom, ‘I hope I made the right decision. I really like the idea of joining the Navy. Penn happened to have a Naval ROTC program. It was meant to be.” Miller’s mother, Regina, had also considered attending Navy when women were first accepted into the academy. Miller will be commissioned as an ensign after graduating. Miller’s schedule is packed with academic, athletic and ROTC commitments, but that doesn’t faze her. She remains efficient with everything she does, including her exhausting crossfit-inspired workouts. “By pushing yourself to near failure, you’ll be able to see where your vulnerabilities lie as a person, as well as your physical and mental strengths,” Miller said.


50 LACROSSE MAGAZINE » November 2014


— M.S. A Publication of US Lacrosse


©PHOTO CREDIT


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76