Boyd to pursue additional degree before moving on to coaching
Diamond Boyd ’17 loved her time at Cornell College so much, she’ll be back next fall. Boyd, a native of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, graduated with a degree in psychology this year but she is returning to campus this fall to earn a second degree in kinesiology and finish her eligibility for NCAA. The volleyball, basketball, and track and field star will then move on to coaching at the high school level.
Boyd said One Course At A Time was crucial in helping her stay focused without being stressed and overworked due to her busy athletic and extracurricular schedule.
“One Course At A Time made me see a new way to learn and focus. I was able to excel academically and pursue my athletic career as well,” Boyd said. “It showed me how to juggle a lot of different things at once without getting too overwhelmed with it all. You can do anything in 18 days. I really learned the limits did not exist when I put my mind to it.”
Q: What activities, clubs, organizations, or work study positions were you involved in at Cornell and how did they add to your education and enjoyment of Cornell?
A: Cornell Women’s: Volleyball, basketball, track and field teams
Lunch Buddies
ACTION (female student-athlete leadership group)
Cornell tour guide
Phi Omega
Being involved just made me appreciate the little things so much more than I did before. Being a part of something that was bigger than me was something that I had never really experienced before. I have learned a tremendous amount about myself and from others. I could not have asked for a better experience.
Q: What is your biggest academic accomplishment?
A: My junior year I took a psychology course being offered for the first time that year. It was called Abnormal Behavioral Neuroscience. Hardest class I have ever taken. It was definitely the most rewarding, though. Not only did I learn about things that I was super interested in, I also proved to myself that I could get a good grade in a really hard class with one of the best professors that Cornell has. We had to give a 45-60 minute presentation on the neuroscience of a mental disorder. It was crazy intense and the longest speech/presentation I had ever given was maybe 20 minutes. I was very proud of myself afterward for not having pit stains, haha.
Q: What are your post-Cornell plans?
A: Next year I plan to continue my education, get a second major in kinesiology, and finish out my eligibility for NCAA. After that I want to get into coaching at the high school level.
Q: What Cornell experiences prepared you for this?
A: Being a captain of the volleyball and basketball teams has helped me out a lot. I was able to see how those before me led the team and handled themselves, then I took some of what I learned from them and applied my own beliefs to help keep the culture and hold each other accountable for.
I was able to immerse myself in an internship. That helped me to experience your typical work day and the ability to see and feel what that looks like. I also got to build relationships with people and kids that I otherwise may not have been able to.
One Course At A Time really helps me to focus on the tasks that I have at hand. That meant I could stay focused and challenge myself academically without being too busy, stressed, or overworked.
Q: Is there someone who has inspired you?
A: My mom and my siblings … I have three younger sisters and an older brother. They have always helped and supported me in following my dreams. They have literally been my number one fans and always picked me up when I was down and not sure that I wanted to keep going. They just never gave up on me and more importantly, never let me give up on myself. And for that I will forever be grateful.
Q: What is the theme of your life? How do all of your interests tie together?
A: “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”—John Wooden
“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is who you are, your reputation is who others think you are.”—John Wooden
I have been able to grow into the woman that I know my mom is proud that I have become. A woman that I am proud that I have become. These two quotes have been with me since my freshman year of high school. I never forgot them because they just played such a big part in helping me remembering who I am, what I can do, and how those two explanations of myself can help others.
