Olympic dreams, lifelong lessons: A MiM student’s perspective on grit and growth

Competing in the Olympics is the pinnacle of athletic achievement, but the journey to get there — and what comes after — is often the most transformative part. Coming off the heels of participating in her first Olympic games, Jaye Patrick ’25 is starting her Master in Management (MiM) Program this fall. 

Learn more about how the resilience and determination built on the road to Paris will fuel Patrick’s new ambitions off the diving board.

Can you tell us a little bit about your academic and professional background? 

I attended Northwestern undergrad from 2019-2023 where I majored in communication studies and double minored in business institutions and statistics. After graduating, I moved to Purdue University where I was granted a graduate certificate in communication and leadership. I now am back at Northwestern as a candidate for the Master in Management Program at Kellogg.  

Much of my professional background has been focused on diving. Since I am the first, and only, diver for Latvia I was my own travel coordinator and other planning logistics. The Olympic committee or federation typically hires a team leader for each country but given my freshly minted position as the country’s first diver, we did not have the funds to hire someone for this position, so I did all the work myself.  

I stepped up to the additional tasks and challenges of ensuring we submitted all the necessary paperwork. However, even though I took the lead on several aspects, the importance of collaboration can’t be overlooked. I worked with the Latvian Olympic Committee, Latvian Swimming Federation and World Aquatics to manage various competitions such as European Championships and World Championships. 

Speaking of swimming, congrats on participating in this year’s Olympics! As you reflect on that experience, what newfound insights are you taking with you? 

Thank you! The Olympics were an amazing and once in a lifetime experience; I will be forever grateful for my time spent in Paris. My participation in the Olympic games was all about celebrating and enjoying the hard work it took for me to get there. The insights I learned during the journey to the games are more valuable to me than actually competing in Paris.  

The year leading up to Paris I moved to West Lafayette, Indiana, to train at Purdue University. I was coached by one of the greatest divers of all time: David Boudia. During my training, I consistently faced adversity, failure and frustration. When it came time to qualify for the Olympics, I ended up placing right outside of the confirmed qualification place — I placed 21st and only the top 18 advance.  

For the following three months, as my place at the Olympics was not yet confirmed, I had to fight my feelings of failure and hold onto my small moments of hope. The insights I gained during those three months will help me in every aspect of my life moving forward. I learned grit, dedication and the importance of positivity.  

As last, the hardest three months of my life subsided, and I was granted the relief of accomplishing my greatest goal.  I’ve learned to trust the process and never give up.  

During the Olympics, I leaned heavily on the support system around me. My coaches, teammates and family reinforced the importance of community. I always thought that the saying “it takes a village” was a cliche, but it is completely on the nose. I could never have accomplished my goals without the support I received during those three months and at the games.  

What motivated you to apply for the MiM Program and why did you ultimately decide on Kellogg?

The MiM program was the perfect next step to help me transition from the athletic world to the professional world. I have spent almost all my life focused on sports. When it came to forming my professional goals, I was lost. I spoke with some MiM alumni about the program, and they said it helped them create a concrete timeline for their preferred occupation. I needed guidance and support during my transition out of diving and thought that MiM was the best possible program to help me do so.  

Its well-established name in the business world was what ultimately drew me to Kellogg — and its extensive community. I knew I would be welcomed into an amazing network of hardworking individuals. I wanted to be a part of this community; and more importantly, I wanted to contribute and grow it. 

What are some of the program aspects that you’re most excited about?

I am most excited about all the networking possibilities that Kellogg creates. I love to meet new people and hear about their experiences. I really look forward to gaining knowledge from my classmates, peers and mentors. Since I am still slightly unsure of what my professional trajectory will look like, I’m looking forward to hearing from others everything from their past experiences to any advice they might have.  

In a few words, how would you describe the Northwestern University and Kellogg community?

Northwestern University has cultivated a community that’s allowed me to flourish and strengthen my skills that allowed me to reach my goals. A great community filled with staff members, fellow students, and friends supported me throughout my time as an undergrad. Northwestern was always pushing me to be my best whether that was in the classroom or on the pool deck.  

Now that I am in Kellogg, I see that same culture. I immediately felt included in the school’s community and I know that I have one of the greatest networks to reach out to. During the first week of pre-term, I was introduced to several deans and professors with amazing accomplishments and backgrounds. They all greeted me with warmth and enthusiasm regarding my upcoming journey within Kellogg. I knew within the first couple of days that I made the right decision to continue my academic journey at Kellogg. 

How are you tailoring your MiM experience to help support and accelerate your career goals?

My MiM experience is going to be filled with utilizing all the opportunities the program grants. While my current career goals are not completely formed, I plan to attend networking sessions and get to know my classmates and other members of the Kellogg community to help me with creating specific long and short-term career goals.  

I also am very excited about participating in the Global Initiatives in Management (GIM) program! I have spent the past three years traveling all throughout the world and have learned a lot about the cultures in respective countries, so I’m looking forward to broadening my horizons even further.  

Student-athletes often excel in teamwork and discipline; however, transitioning to the business world requires a different set of skills. What advice would you offer to student-athletes in this program to leverage their athletic experiences while also building a strong business foundation? 

My time as a student-athlete may have been different from others. Diving in college is made to seem like a team sport, since ultimately one college wins over the other. However, divers still have to compete alone. This dynamic pushed me to balance my own personal goals, as well as my team’s goals.  

When moving into the professional world it is important to maintain your own career goals while still strengthening and supporting the people around you. I’ve competed the best individually when I was being the best teammate I could be. I would advise students to harness their competitive spirit and let it drive their organization’s growth.  

Additionally, organized sports can sometimes restrict self-autonomy. There is a new excitement in individual responsibility and creativity in the professional world that, as an athlete, I had never felt before. It is important to appreciate that independence, while still remembering to prioritize organization growth.  


Read next: Shaping well-rounded business leaders: A MiM alumnus’ Kellogg journey