Music, Code, and Snow: February in NYC

Hi readers!
It's been a minute since my last post. A lot of great things have happened in my life this February! Stick around to hear about what's been going on and what's to come.

As college students, we all struggle with managing our busy schedules. For me, this was especially true during the weekend of February 7-9, 2025.

That weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to perform with the New Jersey Wind Symphony in an amazing concert featuring some phenomenal repertoire:

🎵 Gustav Holst – The Planets – One of the most epic orchestral pieces!
🎺 Alexander Arutunian – Trumpet Concerto – Performed by the MET Opera's very own principal trumpet, Billy Hunter!
🎷 Gunther Schuller – Blue Dawn Into White Heat – My jazz debut, thanks to an incredible bass line from my friend and immensely talented bassist, Ruby Farmer!

Then, the very next day, I spent 24 hours straight (yes, sleep was sacrificed!) working on a project for Columbia DevFest 2025. More info on this will come soon—we’re still developing something I’m super excited about!

That same weekend, I also had the opportunity to connect with peers and mentors through the HeadStart Fellowship—including its founder, Oba! Meeting this group of driven individuals was a highlight of my weekend. I was inspired and amazed by everyone’s accomplishments and success.

For any freshmen or sophomores interested in tech, consulting, or finance, this program is truly one of the best for networking, mentorship, and career development!

Other Highlights from February:

🎉 Celebrating my birthday with my Columbia friends
💼 Completing a full round of interviews with a tech company
📩 Receiving my first big tech OA from Amazon
🧠 Securing a first-round interview for Jane Street's Summer Immersion Program
👥 Getting matched with my amazing HeadStart mentor, Aaryan Jain (a third-year at Northeastern currently on co-op at Apple!)
💻 Finally starting my LeetCode grind after failing the Two Sigma First-Year SWE OA
📚 Meeting Dr. Umar at Columbia Black History Month's Winter Solstice
❄️ Experiencing one of the snowiest winters I've ever seen in NYC!

February was an eventful and unforgettable month, and I'm excited for what’s ahead. Stay tuned for more updates!