Terrence Boyd
First and last name: Terrence Boyd Jr.
Year in school: Class of 2006
Major: Finance
Home city/state: Oakland, CA
1. Where did you work?
Multicultural Center, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California
2. What was the title of your position?
Director
3. When did you work there?
I am the Multicultural Center’s Director from 2005 - 2006
4. What did you do?
As Director, you are to ensure that the Center functions and operates smoothly. You do this by: providing nine cultural clubs with the resources they need; hire the Multicultural Center’s staff positions; and represent the Multicultural Center in meetings with School Administration and other on-campus/off-campus organizations.
5. How did you hear about this position?
I have been a member or an officer of Igweuike for three years. Igwebuike is Santa Clara University’s Black Student Union, which is one of the nine cultural clubs within the Multicultural Center. Being an active participant in Igwebuike, I established a personal relationship with each of the three past Multicultural Center Directors. I gained interest in the position my sophomore year when I served on the Multicultural Center’s Executive Board as the Igwebuike representative.
6. How does what you learned through this experience relate to your coursework and/or career goal?
Being the Director of the Multicultural Center has related to several classes that I have taken while at Santa Clara University. The managerial skills, motivational skills, and the budgeting skills, I have acquired being a Finance major in the School of Business have helped me thus far and will help me in my position throughout the year. Being a part of the Multicultural Center for the past three years has provided me with an opportunity to learn about other cultures and respect our differences. Living in the Bay Area, I believe that it is our ongoing duty as citizens to learn about the cultures represented in the area.
7. How did this experience help you develop your skills and abilities, your personal qualities, your values and perceptions?
This experience has allowed me to value and respect the opinions of others; it is important that every voice is heard and given equal credibility. This experience has also taught me that a homogenous ideology or perception will not translate into a productive and efficient working environment. According to Hewitt Associates, the life expectancy of a company today is 12-15 years. Because the Multicultural Center is an extremely diverse student-operated organization, and because we value diversity throughout our organization, we will be celebrating our twentieth year of existence in 2006.
8. What did you learn about yourself that surprised you?
I learned that being the Director of an organization, you and the organization you represent will be susceptible to constant criticism. I was extremely surprised of how open and willing I was to meet with people to see why the negative perceptions existed.
9. How would you describe the value of this experience to other students?
My experience as Director has been priceless. Being a part of the Multicultural Center, you can see the passions and desires of other students. When you see that passion translate into opportunities to share experiences and educate others, it is both phenomenal and rewarding at the same time.
10. What advice would you give to students interested in doing this?
Never doubt yourself. Self-doubt will deter you from achieving your goals and your dreams.
