Colorado University Athletics
CU Athletics' First-Year Program: Understanding & Leveraging Your Strengths
February 07, 2026 | Scripps Leadership & Career Development
As CU Boulder's first-year and mid-year first-year student-athletes continue to settle into the spring semester, they are challenged to better understand not only their goals, but also the personal strengths that shape how they learn, lead, and perform. To support this growth, Scripps Leadership & Career Development hosted FYP Session #3: Understanding & Leveraging Your Strengths on Monday, January 26, in the NerdWallet Touchdown Club. This session brought together first-year Buffs for an interactive discussion centered on self-awareness and intentional development.
The session focused on helping student-athletes understand their individual personality traits and how those traits influence communication, decision-making, and teamwork. Prior to the workshop, participants completed the 16 Personalities assessment and used their results as a foundation for reflection. Through guided cohort conversations, student-athletes explored how their strengths show up in academic and athletic settings, how they respond to pressure and feedback, and how different personality styles can work together effectively within a team environment.
For many participants, the session provided clarity not only about themselves, but also about the value of understanding others. "The FYP 16 Personalities session helped me learn new things about myself, understand my teammates better, and better see how different people can contribute to a team," said Yukiko Ikedo, a first-year member of the Colorado Buffaloes women's tennis team. Her reflection echoed a central theme of the session of self-awareness, strengthening both individual performance and team dynamics.
That connection between self-understanding and leadership was reinforced throughout the workshop. "When student-athletes understand their preferences and strengths, they grow in self-awareness and become better leaders, modeling positive leadership for their teammates," said Katherine Kubancik, Assistant Director of Scripps Leadership and Career Development. By emphasizing reflection and intentional application, the session encouraged athletes to lead authentically while remaining adaptable in different team environments.
Throughout the session, student-athletes engaged in activities designed to highlight the value of diverse strengths and perspectives. Discussions emphasized that no single personality type is 'better' than another, and that success comes from understanding how to leverage individual strengths while remaining open to growth. Student-athletes reflected on how increased self-awareness can improve accountability, strengthen relationships, and support performance during moments of challenge or transition.
The First-Year Program continues to build a strong foundation for student-athlete development by equipping participants with tools to better understand themselves and others. As the program moves forward, future sessions will connect these insights to goal setting, leadership, and long-term success, reinforcing CU's commitment to developing WHOLE student-athletes prepared to thrive academically, athletically, and personally.
