David Boudia was born in Abilene, Texas, on April 24, 1989. He has two sisters, Shaila and Shauni. He's been diving since 2000 and trains about 30 hours per week.
Interview with David Boudia:
What came first – homeschooling or your sport?
Diving came before my homeschooling. I decided I need to make the switch if I wanted to be successful.
Tell us a little more about your homeschooling. Do your parents teach you, do you have a tutor, do you do online schooling? What curriculum do you use?
I started homeschooling my second semester of my junior year, so I had already finished a great deal of the curriculum. It was very easy for me to teach myself the remaining classes, but I did have a tutor for math.
Is your family part of a homeschool support group? Do you participate in any homeschooling activities, classes or field trips?
My family was very supportive when it came to my homeschooling because they knew I had a lot to juggle. Whenever I needed help, they were right there to help me.
What strategies do you use to keep focused and manage your time? Do you do all your schooling in a "block" of time, or one subject now and another one whenever?
I knew coming into homeschooling that I did not have many classes to finish, so I wasn't worried about finishing quickly. I took my time with the classes and finished up strong.
Are there any components that you end up short-cutting or eliminating altogether (like library time, report writing, other things that can take up loads of time)?
When I had homework assignments, I really just went straight to work on them and read as I did the assignment, instead of reading before starting the work.
It is often said that homeschoolers are isolated and lack social skills. With your homeschooling experience, what is your opinion of this? As an Olympic hopeful, how have you overcome this so-called handicap?
I think homeschooling actually helped socially because it allowed more time instead of having to worry about going to practice after regular school.
How has homeschooling helped you, both academically and with your sports career?
Homeschooling has helped me become more responsible because I had to rely on myself and not teachers to finish school.
What obstacles have you had to overcome to get where you are today?
I had to give up a lot of my social life because of practice, but I know it will be worth it when it comes to the Olympics.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your chosen sport?
I love to play other sports because I love staying active.
What do you like to do to unwind?
I like to unwind by playing Guitar Hero or watching TV.
How has your journey to the Olympic team affected your family?
I know that my family has had to make a lot of sacrifices for me and I cannot thank them enough for it.
What are your educational and lifelong goals? Do you feel that your homeschooling has prepared you for these goals?
In the fall I will be attending Purdue University and be completing my schooling there. I feel like homeschooling has prepared me for college because I know how to manage my time.
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At the 2007 Speedo U.S. Open Championships, David went home with three gold medals. Before being homeschooled, David spent time in public school where he dove for his high school team. David brings a unique perspective to homeschooling – acknowledging that if it was not for homeschooling, he would not be free to pursue his life dream, but never willing to compromise on his dedication to a quality education.
Many thanks to David Boudia for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer these questions and give us an insight to how homeschooling has impacted his diving career. David is an inspiration and a good role model for our students. We will be cheering him on in August!
