Alumni Spotlight: Sajid
Each conversation with a First Tech Fund alum is an opportunity to reflect on what’s been most beneficial for our students and how they’ve been impacted through their participation in our programming and in partnership with our staff. These conversations also remind us that there is much more support that we can offer students across New York City and that we can grow our impact with the support of additional generous funders.
Sajid joined First Tech Fund during the 2023-2024 year as part of cohort 4, as a senior at University Heights High School in the South Bronx. Over the course of the year, First Tech Fund helped Sajid with his college applications, networking, and program outreach.
Now as a sophomore at Syracuse University, Sajid is studying Computer Science & Mathematics and is also involved in several organizations, including Syracuse University Men’s Rugby, where he’s a Vice President, and a Financial Analyst, where he focuses on building meaningful insights and data to receive funding from their alumni and other businesses.
We recently connected with Sajid to talk about his favorite FTF memories, his current studies at Syracuse University, and more.
When you started at First Tech Fund as a Fellow, what were some of the things you were looking for support with?
First Tech Fund did a program where each student was given a mentor to help guide them. My mentor, Ken Yi - Analyst at Meta took me on and helped me extremely. When I first joined First Tech Fund in September ‘24, I was starting my college applications, and desperately needed help. I was stone cold set on going to Syracuse University, so much so that I even applied Early Decision 1. Leading up to the application date, I felt as if I was unprepared with my personal essay, resume, and extracurricular descriptions. The college assistance program helped me get my foot through the door and eventually got me accepted to some of the best colleges in NY state. For where I am today, I owe the deepest thanks to First Tech Fund, and Ken.
What was the favorite part of the program you were a part of?
My favorite part of the college assistance was when Ken and I were polishing up my essay and extracurricular activity descriptions, and we just had a moment where we knew it was ready for colleges to view. We re-read the essay and descriptions more than 5 times each and Ken himself then told me, “This is amazing, Sajid”. To this day, that one small interaction and reaction solidified my gratitude for Ken, and created a “core memory” that I look back upon as I venture through University.
What is something you learned at FTF that you continue to value today?
Something I learned at FTF that I continue to value today is to keep trying hard. As cliche as it may be, the Foundation of FTF was built on supporting students who come from less fortunate backgrounds. These students, such as myself, struggle with access to technology and resources to assist us especially in High School. Being in FTF, the two biggest examples I’ve seen reflective of this is Josue and Kerianne. No matter what, they always gave their all when it came to managing FTF. When it came to assisting every student, they gave all their time and effort to make sure every student graduated FTF with more support than they thought they would have. For FTF starting as “just another program” to me in high school, where everyone and myself said “Yeah I just want that free laptop”, to then becoming my most beloved program that I am an alumni of. FTF will always be in my deepest regards.
Can you tell us about an interesting person that you met via First Tech Fund? What did they teach you that helps you today in your work or in your studies?
One interesting person I met at First Tech Fund is Rizouana Prome, A current senior at the University of Rochester studying Computer Science. Rizouana and I met a month after my FTF graduation, when an alumni panel event was organized, to which I started speaking to her. She is in my same major, and has had many successes in this field. I remember asking her how she stays motivated and eager to learn in the CS field, with the improvement of AI day by day. She said roughly, “Try to enjoy it for the knowledge, not the money”. To this day, now as a rising sophomore in University, this mindset is what kept me in Computer Science and Math because I found a way to enjoy studying and understanding my major more deeply, with the majority thanks to Rizouana.
What are you doing now and what are some of your goals for the next couple of years?
Right now, I’m getting ready to head back to Syracuse as I am an incoming Resident advisor, so we move in early. Throughout the school year, I will also be tied with my Vice-presidency at SU Rugby, and I will be applying for summer 2026 internships, mainly in data analytics or financial analytics. Currently, I am a Computer Science & Mathematics double major, yet with the flexibility I have from college enrollment back in high school and after I took some summer classes, I plan on declaring a 3rd major my senior year in Economics. My main goal is to learn as much as I can around the business tech world, which I know I definitely can succeed in with my quantitative majors. Post undergrad, I plan on doing a Masters in Finance either at Syracuse, or back in NYC.
If there’s one thing you’d want to share about the First Tech Fund’s resources and community of support, what would it be?
The number one most valuable aspect of FTF’s resources, in my opinion, is the networking events. The FTF team is the most generous and committed team I have been a part of that balances their current students and their alumni family. The networking events, just like the alumni event this past summer, help me and others connect with those a part of the First Tech Fund family that are in similar career fields that we are interested in and connect from there.