Learning remotely has its perks for first-year Promise scholar, student-athlete
Learning remotely has its perks for first-year Promise scholar, student-athlete
October 1, 2020
After making the halls of Cranston High School West her home away from home for more
than three years – whether mingling with friends or darting in and out of classrooms
– Talia Thibodeau eventually faced the same reality as every other high school student
in Rhode Island affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pivot from in-person to remote learning was difficult for some, but the highly-motivated
Thibodeau thrived thanks to her own method of self-accountability and effective time
management, adhering to the philosophy that the more she stacks on her plate, the
more efficiently she operates.
Now in her first year at the Community College of Rhode Island as a Rhode Island Promise
scholar studying Communications, Thibodeau is adjusting swimmingly to life as a college
student, continuing to excel academically amidst the pandemic. If and when COVID-19
guidelines allow for the continuation of college athletics, Thibodeau plans to play
for CCRI’s women’s basketball team, picking up where she left off at Cranston West
as a varsity captain and Academic All-State selection in her final season.
“It’s an exciting time for me,” Thibodeau said. “I love learning, and I love everything
CCRI has to offer.”
Upon transitioning to remote learning in mid-March, Thibodeau found it more effective
for her than in-person learning, mainly because it forced her to minimize distractions
and prioritize her extracurricular activities outside of the virtual classroom.
Her ability to adapt to remote learning, coupled with her lingering concerns over
the spread of COVID-19, heavily influenced her decision to eschew attending a four-year
college – and living on campus – and instead enroll at CCRI as a Rhode Island Promise
Scholar.
“Remote learning was an eye-opener for me,” Thibodeau said. “When it first hit, it
was probably a little bit of a shock to the system, but I soon became comfortable
with the idea of having to be at my desk and on my computer at a certain time.”
As a high school senior, Thibodeau worked several jobs (including one at Roger Williams
Park Zoo), captained the Falcons to the Division I playoffs as the team’s lone upperclassman,
and spent countless hours each week volunteering for the Cranston Youth Girls Basketball
Association (CYGBA) – everything from working the concession stands to coaching and
officiating games. She even helped motivate her younger brother, who, at the time,
was a sophomore at West struggling with remote learning.
The CYGBA recently rewarded Thibodeau for her efforts, naming her the first-ever recipient
of its Nancy Duffy Memorial Scholarship, an annual $500 award given to a local student
who makes a significant impact on the league.
“I push myself. I’m very independent,” she said. “When it comes to school work, I
always feel like I’ve got it covered, and that gives me the opportunity outside of
the classroom to take on other activities.
“The routine is important to me. I know how to manage my time. I know how to complete
all of my work and stay motivated. Having to do this toward the end of my senior year
really helped make the transition to CCRI much easier.
“I love all of my professors here, and they make it incredibly easy to access your
courses and the materials. I know where everything is. It’s been a great experience.”
Thibodeau staggered her schedule for the fall to include most of her classes on Tuesdays
and Thursdays, giving her longer study days in addition to more time during the week
to assist with the CYGBA once play resumes. The league, which launched five years
ago as an alternative for girls in Cranston interested in playing organized basketball,
helped Thibodeau develop her skillset during a time in which her only option was to
join co-ed teams with limited playing time.
Taking on additional tasks through the years, such as counseling younger players and
coaching the CYGBA’s 3-on-3 division, taught her the value of time management and
accountability, both of which have carried her throughout her academic career. The
characteristics that make her a fundamentally-sound player on the court, she says,
also keep her ahead of the curve in the classroom.
COVID-19 guidelines have changed the current landscape of college athletics. For now,
Thibodeau’s interactions with her soon-to-be teammates and coaches have been relegated
to occasional Zoom meetings, and with restrictions on in-person practicing, building
camaraderie is a work in progress. If and when the season begins this winter, she
says she will be “prepared and get ready to go out whenever I can” – all in a day’s
work for the highly-motivated Thibodeau, who continues to adjust to everything 2020
has to offer.
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October 1, 2020
