When Sebastien Sergile arrived at UVA, he brought with him not only an impressive athletic record but also an ambition to succeed both in the pool and the classroom. Originally from Alpharetta, GA, just outside of Atlanta, Sergile has been a swimmer since he was just four years old.
“I love the competitive nature of the sport,” he says. “Swimming works out your body and your mind at the same time.”
This dual focus on physical and mental well-being has helped Sergile throughout his first two years on Grounds as a student-athlete. “It is challenging because you are expected to spend 20 hours a week working out, and that can take time away from studying a little extra,” he explains. “But I feel like over the past two years, I’ve gotten good at managing my time. I’m confident in my ability to prioritize what’s important, but it can be hard to say no, especially since in college; there are all these different things fighting for your attention.”
A Lifelong Dream Realized
Sergile’s path to collegiate athletics was no accident. “Growing up, I was that kid who dreamed of making the Olympic team one day. Big dreams,” he laughs. Swimming was always a part of his plan, and UVA’s “exceptional program” offered the right balance between rigorous academics and top-tier athletics.
“I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to come to a school that puts a strong emphasis on both. It’s taken me places and given me people I wouldn’t have otherwise interacted with. I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” he says.
In the pool, Sergile competes in a variety of events, including the 400 IM, 200 IM, and 200 butterfly. “I’m kind of a jack-of-all-trades,” he says. “Whatever the team needs me to do, I’m there for it.”
Driven to Succeed in Business
Sergile’s drive doesn’t stop at the edge of the pool. After taking courses in finance and other business-related topics in his first and second years, and learning more from his fellow teammates, he set a goal to get into McIntire.
“I came into UVA with a philosophy to try everything and see what interests me. The business classes piqued my interest more than others. I didn’t hash out a plan B or C,” he says.
Knowing the process of applying to McIntire required a great deal of focused attention and that acceptance was far from guaranteed, he was determined to use the lessons he learned from his upperclassmen teammates to navigate the process.
“Last year, some of the people on the swim team applied and didn’t get in, so I knew I needed to lock in and focus 100% on the application,” he says. That made the day he found out he was accepted a relief. “I knew then what the rest of my college career was going to look like academically.”
Ready to Take on the Integrated Core Curriculum
As Sergile enters his first year as a Comm student, he explains that he’s particularly excited about the unique opportunities to work with real companies on real-world problems. “I’m looking forward to the ICE block and gaining an understanding of how what we learn in class can be applied to actual business problems. I can’t wait to work with them and see what their processes are like, in addition to fine-tuning my own skills,” he says.
In terms of what he may ultimately decide to do as a career, Sergile says that the future looks wide open to him. But in the short term, he wants to learn more about consulting, with a specific focus on AI and its impact on the business world. “I’m planning to do a double concentration in Management and IT,” he notes. “I’m also pursuing an internship opportunity, so I can see if I really like consulting.”
As Sergile dives into his third year on Grounds, his goals are clear: continue to excel in the pool and prepare for a successful two years at McIntire. “I hope to improve rapidly in both aspects. I’m excited for another year of development and to see where that can lead.”
