My Journey to Joining the HeadStart Fellowship

I am beyond excited to share that I have been accepted into the HeadStart Fellowship’s 7th Fellow Cohort! This program represents an incredible opportunity to connect with mentors, engage with industry professionals, and develop both personally and professionally. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my application experience and share my excitement for what’s to come.

How I Learned About HeadStart

The HeadStart Fellowship first came to my attention through multiple avenues: my peers at school, LinkedIn, and ColorStack, an amazing organization dedicated to supporting Black and Latinx students pursuing careers in technology. For those unfamiliar, ColorStack provides a strong community and resources tailored to the success of underrepresented groups in tech. If you're a student looking for support, I highly recommend checking them out here.

My Application Process

Applying to the fellowship was a straightforward but deliberate process that required me to be thoughtful and prepared at each step. Here’s a breakdown of my journey:

  1. Attending Info Sessions: I made sure to attend the HeadStart Fellowship information sessions—twice, in fact. This was a crucial step as it allowed me to clarify any questions I had and better understand the program’s mission. These sessions highlighted HeadStart’s commitment to empowering students interested in tech, finance, and consulting through mentorship and professional development, which strongly aligned with my career goals.
  2. Preparing My Application: The application required careful attention to detail, especially for my resume. I used my modified version of Jake’s Resume, a highly recommended template for anyone building a tech-focused resume. You can find the template here.For the application questions, I was asked to answer: Why HeadStart? Why me? and Additional circumstances. I shared my unconventional start in computer science, which stems from years of tinkering with Linux, managing a home server, and exploring various tech projects outside of formal education. I also emphasized how HeadStart’s goals align with my aspirations to grow in technology through mentorship and professional development opportunities.
  3. The Interview: The final step was a short 15-minute interview. This conversation allowed me to elaborate on my background, career goals, and how I envisioned HeadStart supporting my journey. It was a great chance to highlight my passion and commitment to leveraging the fellowship’s resources.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Amita Satish, Head of Education, and Kelly Bonilla Guzmán, Head of Admission, for their invaluable guidance throughout the process. I’d also like to thank Sayfuddeen Babayo, a friend from Columbia and a Fall ‘24 cohort member, who encouraged me to apply. Their support made this journey even more meaningful.

To anyone interested in joining the next cohort of the HeadStart Fellowship, I highly encourage you to learn more here. If you’re a student looking to join a community like ColorStack, you can learn more and apply here. And for anyone who wants to connect or learn more about these programs, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn here.

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on my tech journey and other exciting developments. I’m looking forward to sharing more soon!