Toros Talk Presents . . . Volleyball's Sylvia Bonilla
A Q&A feature that spotlights CSUDH student-athletes
August 22, 2005

How does it feel entering your 4th and final season as a Toro?

It’s too early, so I don’t think about it being my final year right now. I just psyche myself by saying that I have two more years to go, and that’s how I don’t think about it.

Sylvia Bonilla is the only daughter and the youngest of five siblings. She is scheduled to graduate from Cal State Dominguez Hills in May 2006, making her just the second person in her family to earn a degree.

So it hasn’t hit you yet that after this, you’re done?

No, it hasn’t hit me yet.

What’s the biggest lesson(s) you’ll take with you after four years?

Expecting the unexpected, and learning to adapt. In high school, I played with the same five girls until I graduated, but when I came to college, every year was like starting over. So I learned how to start over every single time. And I learned that I couldn’t get comfortable with myself, so I was always striving to get better.

Goal for this season, personally and as a team?

For me, it’s just to stay strong and to keep leading the team. Not verbally, but by example, by working hard throughout the whole season. And just to keep myself healthy. For the team, just to work hard and play as a team.

When will you graduate? Plans for after college?

I’m hoping in May 2006. After college, I’m either going to get my teaching credential or go straight for my PhD, but it depends on what my GPA is when I graduate. I may have an offer at UC San Diego for a Ph.D. program, so I’m still thinking about it.

Eventually, I want to do research and biotech stuff, and then after I’ve gotten married and started a family, teach. Because it’s much easier to teach when I have a family.

Speaking of marriage and family, how long have you been dating your boyfriend? And are there marriage plans?

We’ve been dating for four years and a few months. We plan to get married, but we want to have a house and a nice wedding, so our plan is to graduate first, work for a few years, and then get married. We have the support from both families, so we’re not in any rush.

What will you miss about playing volleyball the most?

Coming in every day. I guess I’ll just have to get dedicated to something else besides volleyball. I’ve been used to it for the past four years and it’ll be hard to get used to not having volleyball anymore and finding something else to do.

Is there one memory while playing that stands out the most?

The hard times. Not game wise, but in practice, just to keep going. There are times you’re tired and you’re sore and you’re hurting and you don’t want to go anymore. But you push yourself, and you push other people when you push yourself.

For me, it’s the best experience because I know if I go hard, the person next to me is going to try to go just as hard or harder, so I push her. So for me, that’s great, and it’s better than any win.

In what way have you grown the most since stepping foot on the campus?

Being patient and taking the good with the bad. My first year, I didn’t play much and just had to suck it up. But I was dedicated every time I came to practice, and I would work hard every single day.

Even if we lost, I would give it 100% every day and didn’t care if I got playing time. That was probably the way I’ve grown the most. Most people would’ve just given up if they didn’t play and say ‘If I don’t play, I’m not going to work hard” or “If we lose, what’s the point of working hard?” But I just wanted to push myself.

Where will you be in 5 years?

Working, and hopefully married, and that’s probably the only thing I picture myself wanting in 5 years. Anything else … will just come.

How will you feel on “Senior Day”?

Emotional. I’m the only senior, and just seeing my parents … for me, it’s like a goal for them, that I played. So I guess in a way, I play for them. My dad never went to school and my mom, I don’t think she even finished elementary school. So for me to play at this level, or even a college education, it’s like a dream come true for them.