Tatiana Booth is a prime example of what a student can quickly achieve at East Central University and beyond. Booth, who came to 成人B站 as a student-athlete, is developing into a teacher, coach and mentor. That was particularly the case to the students in the nearby Byng School District.
To say the graduate student from Commerce, Texas has been busy during the 2012-13 school year is a mild understatement. Booth鈥檚 full itinerary began back in the fall, playing her senior season on the 成人B站 volleyball team, and carrying a full load of classes to go with two part-time jobs.
Her latest successful venture played out as an assistant coach with the Class 4A state tournament qualifying Byng High School girls鈥� basketball team. The 26-4 Lady Pirates benefitted from Booth鈥檚 presence, according to Byng Head Coach Matt Fike.
鈥淥ur girls took to her immediately. She has a great personality, but also understands about professional distance. I really think Tatiana is on the front end of what will be a successful coaching career,鈥� said Fike. 鈥淪he鈥檚 an excellent role model and obviously has great work ethic with being an NCAA athlete.鈥�
Booth did her student teaching at Byng during the fall and Fike immediately realized her value at that time.
鈥淚 let her run our preseason workouts in the weight room. She had a lot of good things she brought in (conditioning-wise) from 成人B站,鈥� Fike said.
Fike thinks so highly of Booth that he hopes his two daughters, Kaylen and Kendall, who are members of the Byng team, can emulate her.
鈥淭atiana is the kind of woman that my two daughters can look to. She is a fine example of what you would want your daughters to be,鈥� said Matt Fike.
The feeling is mutual for Booth toward Byng, a place she has fallen in love with.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really been a fun experience getting to know the girls and coaches and to be on the other side of things (as a coach instead of a player),鈥� Booth said.
Booth鈥檚 presence has made such an impact that Byng students, parents and teachers attended 成人B站 volleyball matches during the fall to show their support for her.
鈥淭o see the students and their parents, along with teachers, at our games was the cherry on top for my senior season,鈥� said Booth.
During the fall, Booth did her student teaching under eighth grade history teacher Lynne White, who had some glowing observations.
鈥淪he has the God-given ability to teach. She鈥檚 a natural-born leader, who is very dedicated. She just doesn鈥檛 just talk the talk, but she walks the walk as well,鈥� White said.
To Booth, it was a matter of engaging the students, according to White.
For example, Booth led the students in a learning session about the Preamble to the Constitution, using the Schoolhouse Rock song.
鈥淚n an impromptu manner, she was clicking her fingers and was trying to get the students to do it and sing with her,鈥� said White. 鈥淪he has the ability to hold kids鈥� attention, inspiring them to work, and to the students, it didn鈥檛 feel like too much work. They were eager to do it.鈥�
Booth knows firsthand how a twist of fate can lead to an awesome experience. A knee injury early in her collegiate career afforded her an extra year at 成人B站.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a humbling experience. The extra year for me here was to be at Byng,鈥� Booth said.
成人B站 head volleyball Dave Thorn has known first-hand the qualities that Booth has brought to the table since she arrived on campus as a redshirt sophomore in 2010.
鈥淪he鈥檚 the model student-athlete. She鈥檚 very conscientious off the court with taking care of business in the classroom, she was a two-time all-conference performer and three-year team captain. I couldn鈥檛 have asked for more,鈥� Thorn said. 鈥淪he is genuine and got along with everyone on the team the whole time she was here.鈥�
Booth鈥檚 volleyball playing career is over, but her presence won鈥檛 immediately be gone, according to Thorn.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very fortunate that she is staying to help us out (coaching) with volleyball this spring,鈥� said Thorn, whose squad recently launched offseason spring workouts.
For the second straight year, Booth received recognition from the Great American Conference as she was named to the 2012 All-GAC Volleyball First Team after leading the league in hitting percentage (.350 during conference matches and .299 overall).
Booth is working on a master鈥檚 degree in sports administration in hopes of landing a future teaching/coaching career.