University of Minnesota Athletics
Black History Month: Corinne Bolder
2/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
In honor of Black History Month, Gopher Athletics is celebrating those who made us great. Throughout February, GopherSports.com will share short interviews with African-American alumni from almost every Gopher program. In these interviews, former student-athletes reflect on their time at the U of M, provide advice to current Gophers and share what Black History Month means to them personally.
Corinne Bolder
Sport: Soccer
Years: 1995-98
Hometown: Woodbridge, Va.
Occupation: Educator - Reading Specialist/Counselor
What is it you honestly miss most about the University?
I think it's the camaraderie that I had there. I remember coming in as freshmen and there were about ten of us that came in. The ten of us developed a pretty close bond during that time. I miss being able to go to practice together, eat together, doing all those things and also developing that bond, not only on the field but off the field as well.
If you could give the current student-athletes any piece of advice, what would it be?
Focus on the academics because college lasts for four-to-five years and you have this transcript in front of you that you need in order to get into these certain jobs and master's courses. Even though athletics was some people's main focus of getting into their colleges, really focus on academics and make sure their intelligence is reflected in their grades.
Please share your favorite university or athletic event you've attended since you graduated and what made it so special to you?
I came back for an alumni soccer weekend about five years ago. It was great to see everybody come back together again, some married and some with kids. It was great. We picked up where we left off which is kind of cool.
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for a lot of things, I guess. I am grateful for the education that the University of Minnesota gave me and the experience they gave me while being so far away from home. I learned a lot and became a lot more independence. I am grateful for the friends that I made, for God and my spiritual life as well as my friends and family along the way.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
It is a highlight among the many months. Highlighting all the great things that African-Americans have done for us and not only for us, in light of all the things that people have accomplished in the past to build the bridge for future generations to become bigger and better and more successful.