Bridging the Gap to Campus

At the beginning of everything sits “Square 1”. It’s a starting point. A foundation. At Maryland, Square 1 is a program that helps the student-athletes involved with the Kubasik First Impact Program define who they are and build their life and career around it. 

The Kubasik First Impact Program was designed to empower students to make informed career decisions by assessing their values, personality, and skills by engaging in meaningful discussions with campus representatives. Through assessments and networking opportunities, students are able to explore career paths aligned with their interests and strengths, while gaining insights into academic options, professional development opportunities, and the distinctions between graduate school and full-time employment.

As a starting point for the year, the student-athletes were invited to “Square 1” — an icebreaking event and an opportunity to connect with several of the advisors and resources they’ll have access to this year.  

“I saw it as a meaningful opportunity to connect with our student-athletes, many of whom hadn’t engaged with our office before,” UMD’s Coordinator of Career Services and Alumni Relations, Hardeep Chowdhary, said. “I know how much talent and resilience they bring to everything they do, and I wanted to help them leverage those skills to succeed professionally. I also believe networking is essential to their long-term success, and I was eager to support them in building their networking skills.”

Student-athletes partnered up and moved through a mini obstacle course. At each station, they collected a piece of a puzzle or a clue. They weren’t able to complete the course—or succeed in the challenge—until they put all of the pieces together at the end.

“As athletes, I knew they were competitive, but it was excellent watching them come out of their shells and display their competitive spirit,” Lambert Aryee, one of the program’s coordinators said. “I was also impressed by the level of inquisitiveness in their questions.”

A handful of campus partners and resources were on hand to interact with all of the student-athletes as this year’s cohort gets rolling.   

“I was impressed by the student-athletes’ willingness to engage,” Chowdhary said. “Their enthusiasm, thoughtful questions, and openness made the session energizing. Programs like this make a real difference by helping student-athletes feel supported and confident in using our resources effectively.”

Through the obstacle course, student-athletes were able to learn that life is full of obstacles, and so is the Kubasik First Impact Program. They’ll face different challenges in their academic, athletic, and personal journeys. 

However, just like in the Kubasik First Impact Program, success isn’t about handling one piece at a time in isolation—it’s about bringing everything together. In the Kubasik First Impact Program, they’ll be collecting experiences, skills, and lessons. Only when they connect those pieces will they see the full picture and move forward successfully.

“Helping them recognize how their athletic experience translates into professional strengths is both powerful and rewarding,” Chowdhary said. “I value the opportunity this program provides to collaborate with colleagues across campus and build stronger connections between units in support of our students.”

“Helping them recognize how their athletic experience translates into professional strengths is both powerful and rewarding,” Chowdhary said. “I also value the opportunity this program provides to collaborate with colleagues across campus and build stronger connections between units in support of our students.”

The student-athletes were invited to participate in a series of online career assessments through FOCUS 2, designed to provide a complete picture of their interests, values, personality, skills, and leisure activities.  FOCUS 2 also provides suggested job titles and potential career paths based on their results.

From there, the student-athletes were able to hone in on the connections they’re most likely to pursue throughout the year.

“Collaboration opens doors for student-athletes who may not otherwise seek out career advising, allowing them to access a broader range of resources and opportunities,” Chowdhary said. “It also reinforces the message that their future success is a shared priority across the university. By providing career guidance and empowering them to explore diverse paths beyond sports, we help ensure that our student-athletes are fully equipped to thrive after graduation.”

Square 1 was just the start, an incredible baseline for what’ll be a tremendously fruitful year for those in the Kubasik First Impact Program. 

“I envision strengthening this connection by creating even more touchpoints where student-athletes can engage with campus partners in meaningful ways,” Chowdhary said. “This could include additional workshops, networking events, or small group sessions focused on building personal brands and preparing for life after sports. Continuing to show up for our student-athletes and collaborating across departments ensures we meet them where they are and empowers them to see the full range of opportunities available. At the heart of it, students, whether athletes or not, are why I chose higher education, and I’m excited to keep building bridges that enhance their experience.”