Paolo Maaskant (born 26) was only 5 years old when he started learning judo. At first it was just a way for him and his older brother Dario (born 24) to let off some excess energy. But it soon developed into a passion that eventually led him from his home in Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Texas A&M University, where his sporting and academic goals merged.

Maaskant's dedication to judo was unmatched. At 16, he received his black belt and was invited to the Dutch national team based on his placement in ranking tournaments. During high school, his passion for judo collided with a new interest in mathematics. After three years of business and mathematics classes, Maaskant found he was drawn to the latter subject and its logical nature – something he says he also loves about judo.

“In judo, you have to prepare a throw by getting your opponent in the right position and unbalancing him,” said Maaskant. “In mathematics, especially mathematical proofs, you have to create the conditions before you can prove something. Both are difficult, if not impossible, without proper preparation.”

As the end of high school approached, Maaskant realized he needed to prioritize his education and future career. However, as he and his brother considered college options, it quickly became clear that it would be difficult to continue training judo if they stayed in the Netherlands. Balancing school with judo was challenging in high school, as they had to drive one to two hours to practice every day, five days a week. College presented additional obstacles, as a demanding degree like math would leave even less time for judo. Additionally, all of the Netherlands' top universities were on the opposite side of the country from where the boys were training.

Maroon black belts

In search of a university that could accommodate his academic and athletic ambitions, Dario looked for opportunities outside of his home country. His search led him to one of the top judo programs in the U.S. at Texas A&M. Impressed by the prestige of becoming an Aggie, Dario took the first step to College Station in 2020 to pursue a degree in business administration, with Paolo following two years later.

When he arrived in Aggieland, Paolo knew he wanted to study applied mathematics with a concentration in actuarial science and minor in economics. When he discovered the STEM to Stocks Club and the Master of Science in Finance program, which allows him to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years, it confirmed he was in the right place.

“While I enjoyed business classes in high school, I enjoyed math classes even more, and that's why I'm majoring in math,” Maaskant said. “Now I can combine my two interests, business and math, by pursuing a bachelor's degree in math and a master's degree in finance.”

At Texas A&M, Maaskant even discovered an aspect of mathematics that he hadn't considered before. During high school, his math classes focused on the fundamentals of solving mathematical problems. He learned to apply mathematical concepts, but he never learned why those concepts worked. That changed, however, when he began classes at Texas A&M, where he learned about proving mathematics. At some point, while formulating a deductive argument for a mathematical statement to show why the statement logically works, Maaskant discovered something new that he appreciated about his favorite subject.

“I know I chose the right major,” Maaskant said. “Although it's hard to prove or understand the deeper meaning of math, it helped me 'discover' a new way of looking at problems – something I wouldn't have learned in any other major.”

This new way of looking at problems has given Maaskant an advantage as he continues to dominate on the Texas A&M judo team. He secured first place at the 2024 Collegiate National Championships held at Texas A&M earlier this spring and led the team to a second-place finish while also securing an invitation to the World University Games. His experience as a black belt also makes him a knowledgeable mentor for new members of the judo club.

“It was great to win in front of the home crowd,” said Maaskant. “I especially enjoy leading the other black belts during training because that way I get to know the newbies better and can guide them in the right direction.”

Aggie Life

Maaskant is enjoying life as an Aggie and has also joined the sophomore leadership organization Sophomores Leading and Motivating (SLAM) this year. He attends as many Midnight Yell Practices as possible. With such a busy schedule, his advice to future international students is to take advantage of everything Texas A&M has to offer, but to make sure they manage their time well.

“In college, you can do as much as you want, like get involved in organizations,” he said, “but ultimately it always comes at the expense of something else.”

Maaskant says his favorite discovery since moving to Texas is Buc-ee's. When he first visited the iconic gas station a year ago, he thought he was entering a Disney attraction. Now, his room is filled with Buc-ee's merchandise. He even plans to dress up as a Buc-ee's beaver for Halloween this year.

“All I need is a t-shirt to complete the outfit!”