Rising Tide Network: 2025-26 Cohort
Rising potential. Shared strength. 
The Rising Tide Network is a six-month mentorship experience designed to connect college students or recent college graduates in our College and Career Success Program with professionals and Making Waves program alumni who can offer guidance, advice, and share lived experiences.
Through structured, one-on-one meetings, students gain critical social capital, real-world insight, and the confidence to navigate college and career with purpose.
This is more than a networking opportunity – it’s a community-driven program that honors the power of relationships in shaping pathways, building equity, and unlocking potential. Whether you’re the first in your family to attend college or exploring your next career and life steps, the Rising Tide Network offers the people, questions, and tools to help you grow.
Thank you for being a part of our first mentorship cohort!
Please fill out this brief survey every month so we can best support you as a mentor or mentee.
Six-month mentorship meeting guide
October: Build connection and establish goals.
- Connection question: What’s one word that describes how you’re feeling about this mentorship?
- Discussion prompt: What’s your story? How did you get to where you are?
- Discussion prompt: What excites or worries you about school or career right now?
- Discussion prompt: What does a great mentor/mentee relationship look like to you?
- What would you each like to learn or offer through this experience?
November: Share strategies for growth and belonging.
- Connection question: What’s one class, project, or campus experience that’s really stuck with you?
- Discussion prompt: What’s your college experience like — academically, socially, emotionally?
- Discussion prompt: What are some things you’ve discovered about yourself in college?
- Discussion prompt: How did your mentor navigate college — what worked, what didn’t?
- Discussion prompt: What clubs, roles, or internships helped build confidence or skills?
December: Provide practical support and normalize challenges.
- Connection question: What’s something you wish more people talked about in professional spaces?
- Activity: Resume review and feedback. Reference this checklist.
- Discussion prompt: What’s a challenge you faced in the workplace and how did you navigate it?
- Discussion prompt: How has your identity (race, gender, background) shaped your work experience?
January: Explore nonlinear career paths and possibilities.
- Connection question: What did you want to be when you were 10? Has that changed?
- Activity: Mock interview (questions coming soon!)
- Discussion prompt: How do you currently prepare for interviews or talk about your background?
- Discussion prompt: What’s your current idea of a “dream job” — and how might that evolve?
- Discussion prompt: What are ways to learn about industries (internships, shadowing, research)?
February: Build confidence in networking and relationships.
- Connection question: What’s one relationship you’re really grateful for?
- Discussion prompt: Who do you go to for advice or encouragement — and how did you find them?
- Discussion prompt: How do you stay in touch with people you’ve met professionally?
- Discussion prompt: How can you start a conversation or send a follow-up email?
- Discussion prompt: Want to draft or practice a professional introduction together?
March: Reflect, celebrate progress, and plan next steps.
- Connection question: What’s something you’ve learned about yourself through this mentorship?
- Discussion prompt: What are you proud of from the last six months?
- Discussion prompt: What goals do you want to work toward in the next 6?
- Discussion prompt: What’s one insight or story you’ll carry from this experience?
- Discussion prompt: How can we stay in touch or continue supporting each other?
Career resources
