Diana Dinh doesn’t have a lot of free time. When she’s not playing volleyball or basketball at Mariner High School, the senior could be at choir, French Club, Key Club or studying.
However, while she’s on the volleyball court, Dinh has been a huge part of Mariner’s 2-2 start.
“She is the epitome of dependability and she really, really loves her teammates,” said Marauders head coach Amy Jones. “She’ll do whatever she can to help her teammates. She’s very selfless and always smiling. She has to be on the court for us to be successful. She’s a pretty amazing kid. We’re very lucky to have her.”
Herald writer David Krueger talked to Dinh about the Marauders’ improvement, traveling abroad and, most importantly, prom.
Q: How’s life going? Senior year going OK?
A: It’s been really fun. It’s everything you could expect. I’m having fun and the season is starting off pretty well. Better than last season.
Q: How is volleyball this season?
A: I think it’s way better. Everyone’s on the same page. Last year we would always say, ‘Oh, we’re going to try to win. We’re going to work hard.’ And this year we’re actually doing it. We have a better record.
Q: Which sport is your favorite, if you had to pick one? Volleyball or basketball?
A: Oh gosh. It’s a mix. I’ve been playing basketball since elementary school and with the same girls since middle school and we have this really strong bond. But then volleyball, I would say it’s another passion of mine. When I play it’s really fun and I really love it. And I love (Mariner head coach) Amy (Jones).
Q: What is it about volleyball that makes it so much fun?
A: I really love the teamwork and the talking. I know we get mad at each other sometimes, but you know, what family doesn’t? And I would consider us a family and on the court we’re starting to connect more and it’s helping us build our skills and (team) bond.
Q: What was the highlight of your high school athletic career?
A: I would say last year when we played Cascade. They’re one of our rivals and we lost to them the first time but then the second time we won. It wasn’t just the winning. We did a good job communicating and we all had one goal and that was to be better than before.
Q: When you’re not playing sports, what else do you do for fun?
A: Well, I have a lot of homework. Sometimes I don’t want to do it but… I also have choir. It’s like a club/class. I’m the president of choir. And then I have French class, where I’m the vice president. (There’s also) Key Club, National Honor Society and I help out with leadership stuff too.
Q: What is Key Club?
A: It’s an international club where they focus on community service.
Q: So you’re the president of choir? What’s your favorite jam right now?
A: It’s an old song, but I like “Knock You Down” by Keri Hilson.
Q: How did you get started in French Club?
A: I started my freshman year just because a lot of my friends joined, so I joined. I really liked it and I really like the teacher.
Q: What’s a cool — or useful — French phrase?
A: An appropriate one?
Q: (Laughs.) Yeah, an appropriate one would be good. Something that we can print in the newspaper.
A: (Laughs.) I’m not taking French this year so it’s kind of fuzzy. “Hi, my name is,” is “Bonjour, je m’appelle Diana.”
Q: Do you want to visit France?
A : Yeah! We have this program, called French Connection, where our French teacher has a group (of students) that she takes to France during the summer. But I wasn’t — my dad didn’t let me go.
Q: Why not?
A: Because he’s really overprotective. (Laughs.) In the future I will. Probably.
Q: What are your future plans for after graduation?
A: I plan to go to college, probably at U-Dub — or anywhere that will accept me. Or anywhere that has a really good medical program or science field because I want to go into that area.
Q: Do you know what you want to do for a living?
A: Yeah. My goal is to become a pediatric oncologist.
Q: Wow! What is that?
A: It’s a cancer doctor, specifically for children. I have a lot of family members and friends who had cancer and leukemia and I also love children so I just think it’s a good combination.
Q: What would be the perfect ending to your senior year at Mariner?
A: Having the best time at prom. I just really like prom. I like dressing up really pretty.
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