This spring, Atif Mahmood, a native of Queens, New York, will graduate from Queens College as a proud Kessler Scholar. But even though his college experience began in familiar surroundings, he entered college without a clear roadmap.
His background in high school robotics sparked an interest in the computer science program at Queens, but the shift from high school to college brought new challenges. Used to a structured environment and familiar faces, Atif suddenly found himself in a much more independent experience.
“College was a new environment entirely,” he said. “High school was way more structured.”
As a commuter student, he wasn’t living on campus or immersed in traditional college social life. Instead, he had to be intentional about building connections and finding his place. Through his experience in the Kessler Scholars Program, he built new relationships that eased his transition to college.
“The Kessler Scholars Program really helped bridge that gap for me,” he said.
To support his transition to college ahead of his freshman year, the Summer Bridge Program was an early highlight for Atif as it introduced him to campus resources, mock lectures, and, most importantly, a close-knit cohort of peers navigating similar experiences.
“A lot of people just come to school and then go home,” he said. “But the Kessler Scholars Program enabled us to network further.”
Atif’s involvement deepened when he joined the Kessler Scholars Collaborative Student Leadership Board, made up of one student representative from each partner institution. Initially not someone who sought out leadership roles, he embraced the opportunity after encouragement from Chrystle-Claire Greene, Director of the Kessler Scholars Program at Queens College. A trip to New Hampshire for the First Gen Summit with the other members of the Board opened his eyes to the broader network of student leaders within the Kessler Scholars Collaborative Network. For the first time, he saw just how many others shared similar journeys and how powerful that collective experience could be.
“Having that experience of connecting with Kessler Scholars outside of my campus,” he said, “there were just so many people from so many backgrounds, and it felt like a full-circle moment for me.”
For Atif, the Kessler Scholars Program is defined by one word: community. As a commuter student, it gave him a reason to stay on campus, engage more deeply, and build relationships that extended beyond the classroom.
“Overall, you build a holistic community,” he said. “I have Kessler Scholars on my campus, and I have Kessler Scholars outside of my campus.”
After graduation, Atif will begin his career as a software engineer at Bloomberg LP. He’s excited not only about the work ahead, but about the opportunity to give back to his family and community.
When reflecting on his time within the Kessler Scholars Program at Queens, Atif expressed gratitude for the people who made his experience so meaningful.
“The Kessler Scholars community, to me, meant a community that was reliable, and that I could always lean on in times of need,” he said. “I had no clear roadmap entering college, but through the Kessler Scholars Program, I met people who were similar to me, and received guidance for all my needs.”