A Student-Athlete's Perspective: Tiana Woolridge

Princeton volleyball player Tiana Woolridge was named second-team All-Ivy following her sophomore season in 2012. She posted the sixth-best hitting percentage in the Ivy League from her middle blocker position. She is the daughter of the late Orlando Woolridge, who was a basketball All-American at Notre Dame and scored more than 13,000 points in 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association.

1. When you think of the history and accomplishments of African-Americans in
our country, what jumps out in your mind?
Woolridge: When I think of the history and accomplishments of African-Americans in our country, I am instantly taken back to various Black History month activities in elementary school. I was definitely a minority in those years, as one of just two black students in a class of 40.  However, when we would perform research projects on historical figures (I still remember a third-grade presentation on George Washington Carver and peanut butter), I would feel a strong sense of pride in the accomplishments of past African-Americans.

That sense of pride prevails today. I view African-American history as a continuous display of strength, perseverance, and courage, and delight in the fact that I am joining that history as one of the few African-American women to play on the Princeton volleyball team.

2. What do you enjoy and what are the challenges in your current experiences as an African-American student-athlete on an Ivy League campus?
Woolridge: I enjoy the sense of community I feel among the African-American student athletes on campus. I always feel supported by them, both on and off the court. We are not a very large group, but we have an unspoken understanding of the academic, athletic and social rigors that we face day-to-day being minority athletes at an Ivy League school. Though I do have that community behind me, I feel that the biggest challenge I face is being the only African-American member of the team. My teammates are incredible and I love them all like sisters, but there are some times when I feel a little separated or detached, due to our cultural differences. But, on the other hand, when I try to get closer to the African-American community on campus, I spend less time with my teammates and am therefore pulling away from the camaraderie of the team. It can be a difficult balancing act.

3. As you reflect on Black History month, talk about one person who has influenced your life and why?
Woolridge: This will sound cliché, but my mother has without a doubt had the biggest influence on my life. She is the strongest woman I know, and has given everything she has to ensure our success. She has also instilled in us a strong moral compass, taught us about the importance of family and encouraged us to help those less fortunate. I want to be just like her when I grow up, and impact the lives of others the way she has impacted mine.

4. What do you feel is your role in being a leader or role model as African-American student-athlete on your campus and in your communities both at school and at home?
Woolridge: I feel a strong responsibility to serve as a role model for young African-American girls who have dreams of attending college or playing college athletics. I always rise to the opportunity to speak to these girls, whether they are relatives, friends of friends, or recruits, and act as a positive influence in their lives.

5. Projecting forward, what is one thing you would like to achieve or be part of once you graduate to advance the African-American ideal for future generations?
Woolridge: After graduation, I look forward to becoming a very active member of the Association of Black Princeton Alumni and other organizations that assist young African-American students. I believe that older generations can advance the African-American ideal by encouraging, supporting and assisting younger generations to participate in positive activities.