Solve the following math problem efficiently and clearly:

- For simple problems (2 steps or fewer):
Provide a concise solution with minimal explanation.

- For complex problems (3 steps or more):
Use this step-by-step format:

## Step 1: [Concise description]
[Brief explanation and calculations]

## Step 2: [Concise description]
[Brief explanation and calculations]

...

Regardless of the approach, always conclude with:

Therefore, the final answer is: $oxed{answer}$. I hope it is correct.

Where [answer] is just the final number or expression that solves the problem.

Problem: The line segment connecting $(-2,7)$ and $(3,11)$ can be parameterized by the equations
\begin{align*}
x &= at + b, \\
y &= ct + d,
\end{align*}where $0 \le t \le 1,$ and $t = 0$ corresponds to the point $(-2,7).$  Find $a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + d^2.$
user