Feeling At Home

Transferring to the University of Maryland to complete their graduate studies while competing for the women's lacrosse team has proven to be an immense success for Abby Bosco and Aurora Cordingley. As the duo of Terps has solidified themselves as stars and Big Ten Players of the Year on the field, their transition to Maryland has also enabled them to bolster their academic careers and open the doors for new post-graduate career opportunities. 

For Cordingley and Bosco, choosing to attend Maryland was an easy decision. With the combination of the storied women's lacrosse program and top-ranked graduate programs at Smith School of Business - the pair knew that Maryland was where they belonged. 

"Obviously, in the lacrosse world, everyone knows about Maryland," said Bosco. "So I think I decided that when I wanted to use my fifth year of eligibility for grad school, Maryland was definitely one of the places I looked at. I wanted to win a championship."

"Just playing against Maryland, I knew about their dominance and national titles within the conference," said Cordingley. "I knew with my extra year of eligibility, I wanted to push myself and see if I could play till the end of May, and what better place to try that out than Maryland?"

The transition to becoming Terps proved relatively easy, as the team's welcoming culture and coaching staff left Bosco and Cordingley with a feeling of being at home in the program.

"As soon as I talked to Cathy, how at home she made me feel and how comfortable she made me feel, I was like I need to be here," said Bosco.

"[The transition was] super easy. Everyone was very welcoming and no one cared that I came from within the conference and I had to play them a few times in the past couple years. Just a very loving and welcoming group," said Cordingley. 

In the classroom, just as on the field, Cordingley and Bosco quickly began to thrive - taking advantage of new opportunities that being a Maryland student-athlete provided. As Smith School of Business members, the duo has also sought a top graduate education and found a passion for their studies.

"At Penn I was a communications major and here I'm getting a masters in tech entrepreneurship. I've really been able to learn business from bottom up, and that's something I definitely wanted. I've [also] learned a lot about how to grow a company, and how to even potentially start my own. It's been an awesome experience," said Bosco. 

"At Hopkins I wasn't able to take any business classes, because we didn't have a business school. I knew I wanted to do that in graduate school, so luckily the business school here is great and I was able to take some classes that I wasn't introduced to [before]. That will definitely help set me up for the career path that I decide to take after I graduate," said Cordingley.

As for their futures, the opportunities Maryland provides will help Cordingley and Bosco achieve their career goals and reach new heights post graduation.

"It's given me extra time to find out what it really is that I want to do after college, so definitely more insight into that," said Bosco. "It's given me a whole other range of different assets. At Penn, I was just communications, and now I have this business skill set. Being able to apply that in interviews expands the jobs that I can apply to and look for," said Bosco.

"The confidence translates off the field. Knowing I have a great degree, and I'm ready for my next steps in life after I graduate," said Cordingley.

The transition to Maryland bolstered their academic and professional careers, but it also helped Cordingley and Bosco grow as individuals. Gaining confidence and wishing to inspire those around them, the two Terps continue to thrive in their new environment. 

"I think I've gained a lot more confidence this year. Just the extra year of school and playing lacrosse for a  fifth year, you come in with a new perspective so I feel like I'm a bit more mature. Just a lot more confidence on and off the field," said Cordingley. 

"Having fun with what I'm doing and being confident in everything we do - I know it's more so when we step out on the field - but translating into life too. We're awesome and we're good at what we do because we put the work in - just going in with that attitude in everything we do," said Bosco. 

Reflecting on the past year as Terrapins, Cordingley and Bosco are grateful for the opportunities that have arisen and all of the memories and relationships they have been able to build once becoming Terps. 

"[My favorite part is] the relationships that I've made with my teammates and within the business school. Just memories that I'll remember for the rest of my life, and just some amazing people I've gotten to share [them] with," said Cordingley.

"Definitely just the culture, and playing lacrosse here is just so fun. Every single day we step on the field, we have so much fun, and really enjoy doing what we're doing. The team culture and just getting to play with Maryland across my chest has been such an honor and such an awesome experience," said Bosco.

Looking to the future, the duo will use all of these moments and their newfound academic opportunities to push themselves to their short-term and long-term goals, ranging from success on the field to one day earning their dream careers.

"I want to graduate first, but I've already achieved two of my goals on the lacrosse field which is to win our conference in both the regular season and in the Big Ten championship. Obviously our eyes are set on the national championship, but that comes one game at a time. I want to [then] pursue a job in my field. Those are the goals that I've set," said Cordingley.

"As I see the coaches here enjoy what they do so much, I want to get a job where I enjoy it as much as they enjoy doing this. I know that's going to be hard because it's not Maryland women's lacrosse, but I think just doing something I love and being successful at it," said Bosco.