Period: Spring–Fall 2026
Working through it together.
Mentoring students through classes, projects, recruiting, and finding their own direction in computer science.
- Role
- Mentor
- Community
- Columbia University
- Cohorts
- Two · Six mentees
What is ADI?
The Application Development Initiative is Columbia’s student technology community. Its peer mentorship program connects students with more experienced peers for guidance around their interests, questions, and goals.
I mentored three different students in each of the Spring and Fall 2026 cohorts. After introductory conversations and preference-based matching, we shaped the mentorship around what each student needed.
- Spring 20263 mentees
- Fall 20263 mentees
What we worked through
Finding a direction
For students exploring or transitioning into computer science, I helped them consider different areas of the field and how those might connect to their academic and career interests.
Classes and opportunities
We worked through course planning, choosing professors, finding opportunities, and approaching recruiting—drawing on what I had learned navigating CS at Columbia.
Moving an idea forward
I helped mentees choose project ideas, define a manageable scope, plan the work, and figure out how to begin building. Sometimes that meant technical guidance; other times, it meant breaking an overwhelming idea into a useful next step.
Beyond the semester
I stayed in touch with earlier mentees as the year continued, following up as they started classes, developed projects, and encountered new questions.
What I enjoy is helping someone find their footing while leaving room for their direction to be different from mine.