DEV Community: rashida qaiyumi

I Built a Live Information Tracker Instead of Just Scrolling

rashida qaiyumi — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:51:49 +0000

During a major public protest, I noticed something frustrating.

Information was everywhere.

Reliable information was not.

People were switching between social media, news websites, and messaging apps trying to understand what was actually happening.

So I built a simple live tracker.

Not because the problem required complex AI.

But because it required clarity.

Sometimes the most impactful software isn't the one using the newest technology.

It's the one that organizes chaos.

This project reminded me that developers don't always need to invent something revolutionary.

Sometimes we simply make information easier to access.

And that alone can make a meaningful difference.

What everyday problem around you deserves a simple software solution?

I Built an AI-Powered Alumni Platform. Here's Why.

rashida qaiyumi — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:48:27 +0000

One question kept bothering me:

Why do students lose access to one of the most valuable networks they already have their alumni?

That question became AllySphere.

It's an AI-powered alumni networking platform designed to make meaningful connections easier between students, alumni, faculty, and recruiters.

Instead of disconnected WhatsApp groups and outdated directories, I imagined a smarter system where people could:

✅ Find relevant alumni instantly

✅ Get AI-powered recommendations

✅ Discover mentors based on interests

✅ Connect for internships and career guidance

Building AllySphere taught me far more than software development.

It taught me that great products begin with real problems—not flashy technology.

AI should remove friction.

Technology should strengthen communities.

This project pushed me to think beyond writing code and toward building products people would actually use.

I'd love to know:

If your college had an AI-powered alumni platform, what feature would you use first?

Why I'm Starting Before I'm Ready

rashida qaiyumi — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:41:17 +0000

Stop Waiting. Start Building.

For a long time, I believed I needed to be "ready."

Ready with a stronger portfolio.
Ready with more skills.
Ready with a clearer career plan.

So I waited.

Eventually I realized something uncomfortable:

Confidence isn't built before you start. It's built because you start.

I'm an AI & Data Science graduate figuring things out in public.

Right now I'm:

Learning AI beyond what college taught me.

Building projects that solve real problems.

Applying for internships and jobs.

Documenting everything I learn.

I don't have all the answers.

But I do have curiosity.

This blog is my commitment to consistency over perfection.

I'll be sharing projects, mistakes, things I learn, career experiments, and ideas that hopefully help someone else who's also trying to figure things out.

If you're also building before you feel ready

Welcome. 🚀

Let's learn together.

What was the project that finally pushed you to stop waiting?