By: Nicholas Diamantis
Feb. 28, 2018
Hostos Community College women’s basketball player
Desiree Tolbert embodies the true meaning of what makes a CUNYAC student-athlete stand out.
In addition to being a part of the CUNYAC Championship-winning Hostos Caimans, the native of Liberia is a student nurse and a mother of a three-year-old daughter.
Her long and difficult journey began in January 1994. Liberia was going through a tumultuous phase during her childhood. A rebel group known as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia had overthrown the Liberian government.
Making matters worse, Desiree’s mother passed away when she was nine. She, her two younger brothers, and her two-year-old sister moved in with her grandmother. Her situation forced her to be the strong and hard-working sister that her younger siblings could look up to.
“My grandmother taught us morals, values, a strong faith in God, but most importantly, she taught us how to be respectful people”, stated Tolbert.
Desiree played soccer and wrestled among the other boys she grew up with until she was 13 years old. She then took up basketball, and after three years of attending YMCA youth summer basketball camps, she was fortunate to earn a scholarship to the Ricks Institute, one of the best high schools in Liberia.
She was just 16 when she arrived at Ricks; it was her first taste of living independently. Little did she know that it would prepare her for life in New York.
In 2013, she met Alexander Abbondola, whom she would go on to marry two years later. Later, in 2015, the two of them welcomed a baby girl and with the start of their new family, Desiree and Alex had their sights on moving to the United States, in search of a better life.
“The idea of coming to America was exciting for me! Knowing that I would be able to accomplish my dreams and be able to raise my daughter with her dad was a blessing!”, explained Tolbert.
When she landed at JFK Airport in the fall of 2016, she was initially nervous, admitting, “I quickly realized that it was going to be very difficult for me to adjust to the way people treat and act to one another.”
For the first couple of months in New York, Desiree stayed home to take care of her daughter.
In February 2017, Desiree enrolled in the Continuing Education department at Hostos for its CNA program. “I felt the feeling of being welcomed and sensed a friendly learning environment for the first time since entering the United States,” stated Tolbert.
From there, she quickly got in touch with Hostos' Head Women’s Basketball Coach, DeVernie Winston.
“She originally lacked the skill set to be a major impact on our team, but it never deterred her from doing what she needed to do on the court,” stated Winston.
He continued, “Her tireless efforts and hard work earned her a spot on our team and eventually into our rotation.”
Hostos Community College has always been the welcoming, family-atmosphere institution that Desiree envisioned when first coming to America. Her daughter has become a fixture at the school, as she attends Hostos' children's day care program.
Because of her busy schedule, she cannot attend all of the study halls. However, she meets with her academic adviser daily to ensure that she is on top of her studies.
Whenever Desiree isn't studying or practicing with her team at Hostos, she works the night shifts as a certified nursing assistant at Grand Concourse Nursing Home in the Bronx.
Several times, after road games, the team had to hurry back to Hostos, because she needed to head straight to work.
On Feb. 16, Desiree had to hurry to the nursing home, just hours after Hostos won their second-straight CUNYAC title. She was also named to the CUNYAC All-Tournament Team that night.
“Everyone admires Desiree, because we see what she puts in and her commitment to being great…She’s an amazing young lady,” quoted Winston.
“Being a full-time-mother, a nurse that works night shifts, and a student-athlete is a very difficult job to do,” says Tolbert.
She continued, “Every day, I tell myself to keep doing what I do and not stop, because at the end of the day, you break a limit you thought you couldn't reach. You give others hope and an example to look up to, or to learn from, and more especially, you accomplish goals with pride and dignity.”
Desiree’s future plans include obtaining a B.A. in Nursing and a master's degree in Counseling or Social Work.
When talking about her main goals after completing school, she stated, “I would love to advocate for women and children from my country and start a program that will cultivate sports and healthy lifestyle habits.”
The CUNY Athletic Conference has always maintained a mission focused on its founding principles by showcasing the city’s brightest and most goal-driven student-athletes who achieve both academic and athletic excellence. Desiree is a shining example of what the conference represents.
Tolbert and the top-ranked Caimans (23-2), who currently boast a 19-game winning streak, return to action against Nassau Community College this Saturday, March 3rd, in the semifinals of the NJCAA Region XV Tournament.
Should the #1 Hostos Caimans win the NJCAA Region XV Tournament this weekend, Desiree and the Caimans will have their opportunity to claim the NJCAA Division III National Championship in 10 days, a feat that would perfectly wrap up their magical 2017-18 campaign.