Summer Recap from Aamil Wagner
Dear Fellow Alumni, Supporters, and Friends,
I'm Aamil Wagner, and I'm excited to share a recap of our incredible summer at Notre Dame Football. As the player president of our player development program, I've had a unique perspective on the growth and achievements of our team, both on and off the field.
This summer has been transformative for all of us. On the field, we've built a culture of excellence that we call the Golden Standard. It's all about challenging everything, finding a better way, unit strength, loving your brother, and maintaining a competitive spirit - a refusal to lose that's become the heartbeat of our team. Working with Coach Landow and his strength staff has been challenging, but it's brought us closer together in our shared pursuit of continuous improvement.
But what's truly special is how we've brought that same mentality to our off-field development. We're determined to close the gap between our potential and our performance, between our best and our better. That's what it means to be a Notre Dame student-athlete. This experience isn't easy - it challenges us every day. But that's exactly why we chose Notre Dame. We know that nothing worthwhile comes without struggle.
As player president, I've had the opportunity to not only focus on my own growth but to support my teammates' development as well. It's been incredibly rewarding to host workshops on using TurboTax, create budgeting spreadsheets, and help shape the overall framework of our program.
This summer, we've made great strides in building out our POD framework, preparing career prep PODs for the spring semester that will help guys get ready for internships next May. It's all part of our commitment to our 4 for 40 promise - making sure we're set up for success not just for our four years here, but for the 40 years after.
I'm particularly proud of the player-led initiatives we've seen this summer. My fellow player development colleague and Director of Community Service, Jason Onye, took it upon himself to plan an entire field day for local youth from the Boys and Girls Club. It was amazing to see over 60 kids and 50 student-athletes come together, embodying Notre Dame's commitment to the South Bend community.
As I reflect on this summer, I'm filled with gratitude for the support we've received through Project UnlockND. To all the alumni and supporters who have given their time and expertise - thank you. Your involvement means more than you know. It's not just about the connections or the opportunities; it's about showing us what's possible and helping us believe in ourselves off the field.
I'm on track to graduate in three years with a major in strategic management, and I have aspirations to play in the NFL and work in data analytics and consulting. The skills and experiences I've gained through our player development program have been invaluable in shaping these goals and giving me the confidence to pursue them.
This is just the beginning. We, the players, are driving this initiative, and we're doing it together. As the saying goes, "Go fast, go alone. Go far, go together." And together, Irish, we're going far.
The road ahead isn't easy, but that's what makes it worthwhile. We're not just athletes; we're future leaders, innovators, and changemakers. And with the continued support of Project UnlockND and our incredible Notre Dame community, I know we'll be ready for whatever challenges come our way.
Here's to an amazing summer, and to the exciting journey that lies ahead.
Go Irish!
Sincerely,
Aamil
