Home > Case Study >

Zia's Pathfinding Mentorship

Zia's Pathfinding Mentorship

Arts & Humanities

Fashion / Cosmetics

Start Date

January 2025

End Date

Ongoing

Sessions Completed

16 sessions

Assets

<div class="assets-links"><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/f18c4957-1807-44fb-85b4-b938a71eec00/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Zia's Project Proposal Document</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/eb9afdfd-add7-4788-b453-dba8792d79c2/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Zia's Outreach Email Tracker</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/734b2745-3835-48e8-ba91-94477a9ab1c7/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Zia's Email Outreach Communications</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/3d6498e8-98ad-4f49-9d3b-bda5dcd0602a/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Pavan Thimmaiah Interview</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/47b6b461-6f56-4646-817e-a63b618ccb20/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Zia's Website Progress</div></a></div>

Gallery

No items found.

Student & Mentor

Student

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-top-info"><div class="inter-700 _20">Zia</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align"></div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Grade 7</div></div>

Personality
Interests
Mentor

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-top-info"><div class="inter-700 _20">Lily Scott</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Yale University</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">History</div></div>

Personality

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Supportive</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Nurturing</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Engaging</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Encouraging</p></div></div>

Interests

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">History</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Creative Writing</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Fashion Design</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Dance Education</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Public Speaking</p></div></div>

What They Set Out To Do

Zia, a motivated seventh grader, was eager to explore interests beyond her rigorous dance schedule. While excelling academically, she sought guidance to develop a passion project that combined her love for fashion, creativity, and dance. Zia needed a mentor who could inspire her to step outside her comfort zone and help her build confidence in new areas of exploration.

The Perfect Match

<div class="case-study-match-wrapper"><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Creative Storytelling</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Lily's passion for transforming history into creative formats resonated with Zia's desire to explore fashion and personal expression.</div></div><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Shared Dance Background</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Both Zia and Lily have extensive dance experience, fostering a deep connection that enhanced Zia's confidence in her creative pursuits.</div></div><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Empowering Guidance</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Lily's nurturing approach helped Zia navigate her interests beyond dance, encouraging her to embrace new opportunities with a curious mind.</div></div></div>

Project Milestones

Developed SMART Goals and Personal Assessment
December 2024
Completed personality assessment revealing ENFJ-A 'Protagonist' traits and created a comprehensive strengths/weaknesses chart, leading to the establishment of three SMART goals focusing on academics, project development, and dance leadership. Working towards a very focused look at goal setting, based and informed by deep discussions on personality.
Established Project Focus on Fashion and Dance
December 2024
Identified fashion and styling as key areas of interest, with particular enthusiasm for the intersection of fashion and dance, setting the foundation for a project that could combine personal style with interviews of leading dancers in fashion.
Created an Interview Tracker Document
January 2025
Zia worked on her organization and goal building skills--ensuring that she is familiar with how to build a Google Sheet document and utilize all available tools. We will return to this document as we continue through the project.
Project Direction Finalized
February 2025
Established a clear focus for the dance-related project, crafting a mission statement centered on empowerment, expression, and leadership while mentoring young dancers through public outreach and exploring the intersection of dance and fashion.
Developed Professional Networking Strategy
February 2025
Created a comprehensive contact list of dance professionals for potential interviews, including a Rockette, professional dancers from NYC Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and a well-known NYC choreographer, along with an email tracking system.
Professional Email Templates Created
February 2025
Developed professional outreach templates to contact dance industry professionals, including Rockettes, NYC Ballet dancers, and established choreographers, demonstrating networking skills and professional communication.
Interview Call with Pavan Thimmaiah
February 2025
Zia conducted a Zoom interview with Pavan Thimmaiah, the founder of PMT House of Dance in NYC, renowned choreographer, and dance educator teaching at schools such as NYU Tisch.
Mastered Academic Research Tools
February 2025
Gained proficiency with scholarly database resources including JSTOR and Project Muse, learning advanced research techniques using keywords and filters to find academic sources that add depth to the project. This work is based on some of the research curriculum I've learned at Yale--Zia is already doing some very high level research and thought processing!
Google Sites Platform Created
February 2025
Evaluated various website platforms, and selected Google Sites for her dance project based on its clean design, professional appearance, and user-friendly interface, showing thoughtful decision-making in project planning. This is where we will compile all of her project work, interviews, and research!
Established NYC Dance History as Educational Focus
April 2025
Selected the history of dance in New York City as the educational component for the project, recognizing its relevance and accessibility to a general audience while aligning with the broader goals of the mentorship initiative. Zia began the historical analysis process, beginning by taking notes on a "Gotham Center of NYC" article.
Published First Blog Post
May 2025
Created and published a well-formatted blog post featuring the interview with Pavan Thimmaiah, applying journalism skills to highlight key themes including mentorship, studio culture, and transferable dance skills.

Skills Developed

  • Creative Writing (blog posts)
  • Project Management (staying organized and within our timeline)
  • Professional Communication Skills
  • Interviewing Techniques
  • Website Development
  • Public Speaking
  • Historical Research

Challenged Overcomed

  • Gained confidence in public speaking
  • Transitioned from dance to broader interests
  • Developed a personal brand
  • Navigated academic pressures with mentorship

What’s Next

Now, Zia is actively developing her blog that explores the intersection of dance and fashion, showcasing her unique perspective. She aims to conduct interviews with industry professionals and create engaging content that inspires her peers. With continued mentorship, Zia is excited to expand her network and further her creative endeavors. We hope to formulate her own "curriculum" and research to present to a broader audience, hopefully culminating in an in-person event in the fall.

More Case Studies

Film / Theater

Charlie's Film Journey: From Script to Screen

Learn how 11th grader Charlie created 'The Regular' thriller film with mentor Cece from Dartmouth, developing professional filmmaking skills from concept to production.

Learn More

Medicine / Health

Shaw's Sports Medicine Journey | Research to Publication

Discover Shaw's inspiring journey from curious 8th grader to published researcher with Stanford mentor Collin, creating juvenile arthritis awareness.

Learn More

Business / Entrepreneurship

From Hobby to $3,000 Jewelry Business | Rose's Success Story

Read Rose's inspiring journey from 9th grade jewelry hobbyist to successful entrepreneur, building IYK Jewels with mentor Phoebe from Brown University.

Learn More

View All
MentorsPricingCase StudiesReviews
Financial AidBlogHow It WorksFAQ
Become a MentorCareersTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy
press@curiouscardinals.com