Kevin's Musings: Reflecting on My TKS Journey So Far
Meeting new people, streamlining my interests, and thinking about university
Hey there! I’m Kevin Theivendran, a 17-year-old trying to understand the universe day by day. I am interested in a lot of things. Like a lot. Mathematics, physics, sports, weather phenomena, political science, and environmental sustainability. These are some of the many interests I currently have. This was exactly the reason why I joined a program called The Knowledge Society.
TKS: An Incubator for Curious Teenagers
TKS is an acclaimed program for many reasons. In fact, I discovered one of those reasons first-hand. I learned that young people like me can make a positive change in our world. But ultimately it is up to us to take that initiative. I was thrilled to start my TKS journey in September. I now was in a community of over 200 young people all with a similar goal: to pursue their passions to make a difference. This is only the tip of the iceberg. As an avid learner, I was excited to learn about emerging trends in technology and science like longevity, AI, BCIs, and Blockchain. We even learned about schools of thought like Stoicism! All I can say is that there is so much more for me to learn and unpack at TKS,
Streamlining Interests: My Passion Project on Solar
TKS emphasizes the focus project: a 40-hour project on a topic that you are passionate about. As I said earlier, I have a lot of interests. Fortunately, I have the freedom to complete as many focus projects as I like on different topics. Currently, I’m completing a project on solar energy in developing parts of the world. This field is quite fascinating as companies are employing a business model called pay-as-you-go to make solar panels more affordable for some of the poorest populations in the world who rely on unrenewable and harmful energy like kerosene. Over 1 billion people have no access to electricity. Pay-as-you-go solar can make that number much lower, powering hundreds of millions of people around the world, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. That is staggering. Check out my article on PAYG Solar in Sri Lanka.
I’m in the Idea phase of my project. This is where I create a novel solution to improve the accessibility of PAYG solar. So stay tuned for that in the next newsletter.
Thinking About University
I’m in the final year of my high school journey. That also means I have to prepare for university applications.
I have decided to major in computer science, specifically in data science and its role in social good. I found this great because I can intersect my interests in math, machine learning, and world issues.
After some research, I selected the University of Toronto as my top choice. After working on my supplementary app for a few weeks, I decided to send in my application on December 2nd - the final date for early admissions. All I can do now is focus on my passion project, build my portfolio and grind school.
I’m Kevin Theivendran, a 16-year-old researching clean energy solutions in developing nations with the help of financial technology and artificial intelligence. To reach me, contact me via: My Linkeldn Email: kevintheivendran9@gmail.com See you next time!