Capturing Every Opportunity: Tamari Gagoshidze’s Well-Rounded College Journey

Maryland tennis is having a historic season, and the Terps are currently enjoying their highest ITA ranking (35) in their past three seasons. A major reason for their success has been the leadership of their lone senior — Tamari Gagoshidze — who’s taking advantage of everything the University of Maryland has to offer during her two years in College Park. 

“I feel like this semester is special for everyone,” Gagoshidze said. “We have such a great bond. Playing with the team and being part of this team is so special, and I feel grateful every single day. So it becomes easier when there are people around you who you love and you want to play with. That's extra motivation for us to go out there and give our 100% every single day.”

A native of Tbilisi, Georgia, Gagoshidze decided at 18 to come to the United States to pursue a college education and play collegiate tennis. She spent two seasons at the University of Kansas before moving to College Park ahead of her junior year. 

“I love being here,” Gagoshidze said. “From the moment I came to College Park, everything was so nice. The school is amazing. I love our coaches. I love our team. What we’ve got here on campus is very special. I knew right away that this is a place for me.”

Gagoshidze is a traveler at heart. During her — albeit limited — time off, she’ll head down to DC to explore new sights and restaurants. Growing up in Europe, she made frequent trips to Italy and Spain, which ingrained countless memories and sparked a passion for worldwide escapades.

She’s a natural leader and has embraced the role as Maryland’s lone senior on its impressive roster. She’s undefeated in singles play this season and has been a beacon of wisdom for the six underclassmen on the squad.

“I'm trying to be there for everybody when they need me,” Gagoshidze said. “I trust that everyone’s going to do their best on a daily basis, but I love being there when they need me. I have a little bit more experience than they do, so I'm so happy to help them when they need it.”

She’s taken advantage of everything UMD has to offer academically. During her time working with Maryland Made, Gagoshidze connected with TerpTax, a nonprofit organization that provides tax assistance to individuals in College Park. Gagoshidze got an internship with TerpTax, working under Professor Samuel Handwerger, a Senior Lecturer in the Robert H. Smith School of Business. 

“He gave students chances to work on cases before we start an actual internship,” Gagoshidze said. “All the volunteers were my peers, and you learn so much by doing actual work rather than just studying.”

As a student-athlete, Gagoshidze was already filing taxes and helping others to understand the process. There was a learning curve, but Gagoshidze emerged on the other side more confident and with a vision for her future.

“Like any job, there were some difficulties at the beginning,” Gagoshidze said. “I didn't know how to use the software or how to file a regular tax return. Overcoming those challenges helped me gain confidence and also learn a lot. It was a great experience.”

She initially aspired to be a lawyer, but started working in the business school to pursue a marketing degree and found a knack for accounting.

“When I started taking those core business classes, I took accounting, financing, and accounting and realized that I loved those classes,” Gagoshidze said. “I was really good at it, because I'm really good at math and numbers. I was thinking about changing my major from marketing to accounting after I took that first class, but I was still very hesitant.”

She waited another semester, but the next round of accounting classes proved to be too intoxicating for Gagoshidze to resist any further. 

“I knew I had to change my major, because I loved everything about it,” Gagoshidze said. “I loved studying and taking exams. It was so easy for me, and everything was working out, so I decided to take that path.”

The change is already bearing fruit for the senior. She has an internship with Ernst & Young in New York City lined up for her after graduation. She’ll continue working in the tax field and expanding her knowledge of her newfound passion.

“That was actually my dream company to work for, so I'm very excited about it,” Gagoshidze said. “It’s actually made me very comfortable, honestly, because, when you're graduating, you're going through so many things and transitions. Having that internship gives me some comfort in knowing that I don't have to worry about that now.”

Her worldwide travels and love of new places ultimately led Gagoshidze to College Park, where she jumped on every opportunity she could. As she nears the end of her collegiate career, it’s clear this stop along the way may be the one that defines her most, both on the court and far beyond it.