Chronicles of an Ambitious Teenager v2
February and January Edition (because I wasn't very intentional and forgot to do a January newsletter in January)
From Challenges to Hackathons and everything in between, these two months were certainly full of exciting events, as well as some very interesting incidents. Want to read all about them? Why don’t you scroll down? 😛
Attention all newcomers: Hello there! I'm a teenager interested in quantum computing, advanced transportation, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, and space technologies. Welcome! Also, please feel free to recommend some songs!
TKS x 501CThree: TKS City Challenge 💦 Pt.3
As I mentioned, I wasn’t being very intentional, so I forgot to do a January Newsletter (I know, not very legit. Not very boss mentality 😩). This was supposed to be in my January newsletter but now it’s here, so deal with it 😏. In case you’re new here, TKS (The Knowledge Society) is a 10-month accelerator program offering Olympic-level training for future innovators. Interested in joining? Just keep reading!
Anyways, this was a month ago, so y’all probably forgot about it, which I don’t think is being very intentional. (And you call me unintentional? 🙄). OK, I admit, I forgot basically everything about it (🤫 don’t tell anyone), which is why this is gonna be pretty short. Quick refresher about the challenge (Haha, I remembered something 🧠):
Our challenge: How can we influence consumers in affected communities to purchase or obtain a water quality sensing solution for their home? How do we get 1 out of 100 homes within a community to use the solution?
We were lucky enough to have the amazing opportunity to present to the people at 501CThree (too bad Jaden Smith — yes, Jaden Smith — wasn’t there *cough* Setare 😉) and propose our DOPE solution to them. A huge shoutout to Anastasija 🎉🥳 for blowing them away with a fire🔥presentation! And a round of congratulations 👏 for winning a summer internship. You rock!
Another Challenge? Already? 🥺
Yes, another challenge. And why the pleading face? Challenges are fun! Especially this one! I mean, who wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to work with the UN (yes, the United Nations)? You’d have to be completely bonkers to say no to an opportunity like that!
This March, my team (Louis, Joshua, Seher and I) will be working on empowering women and girls in developing countries to thrive in the digital economy. Specifically, our challenge will be:
How can we increase women’s employment in the digital economy by 2026?
This includes building inclusive, transformation, and accountable innovation ecosystems by investing in digital innovation hubs, enabling effective career paths, advocating for female policy actions, and reforming accountability systems ensuring women and girls’ full participation in digital economy.
Our team has only just found a country of focus and begun researching, so make sure to subscribe if you want to read the full story! (Note: I am 100% not self-advertising right now.)
But wait! There’s still more? 😭
Disappointing. I was hoping to hear a resounding yes, which, by the way, if you didn’t know, is the only correct answer to the rhetorical question (which you weren’t supposed to answer — unintentional 😞). In February, I also participated in the TKS Focus Hackathon. Along with my teammates Jerry and Risa, we came up with a very unconventional idea: a quantum blockchain, using quantum technologies to 10X the current blockchain technology.
However, as big brain (yes, very 🧠) as it was, we failed to convince Steven that it was IQ420, so we had to start from scratch. This was at 11PM, when our brains were only semi-functional, if not already dysfunctional. We decided to focus (haha, PUNny — omg bruh stop with the puns or I’ll PUNch you) on blockchain direct funding instead. Takeaways:
We should have known something was SUS when the only information we found about blockchain and quantum computing was how badly they go hand in hand.
Plan your time wisely otherwise you’ll end up needing to pull an all-nighter, and make sure to have a plan B in case plan A gets sabotaged.
You can view our one-pager right here: 👇
Focus Progress ✅
However, the idea of a quantum blockchain did not just yeet itself out of my mind. It inspired me to research more about how exactly it would work, and led me to discover many areas of quantum computing which I did not know about. A topic I found very mysterious was Quantum Cryptography, which I am passionately researching right now. I’m also in the process of writing an article about Superdense Coding; if you’re interested in this, you can read the article (once I finish it, of course). If you want to learn more about Quantum Computing, check out these awesome resources down below 👇👇:
My Corner of the Universe:
I’ve decided to change things up a little: 6 song recommendations, 4 book recommendations, and 2 anime recommendations this time, instead of the usual. And don’t ask where I came up with these numbers because I don’t know.
6 Songs: 🎼🎶🎵
Hikaru Nara by Goose House
Orange from Your Lie in April
Again from Your Lie in April
My Truth - Rondo Capriccioso from Your Lie in April
My Lie from Your Lie in April
Kirameki / Kirameki - Kaori & Kousei performance version from Your Lie in April
4 Books: 📕📗
Caster by Elsie Chapman
I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
The Secret of Zoone by Lee Edward Fodi
Hungry Hearts by Elsie Chapman and Caroline Tung Richmond
2 Animes: 🇯🇵
Your Lie in April OST
Sword Art Online Season 1
Want to Make an Impact on the World?
Last year I was accepted into TKS, and it's the reason you're seeing my newsletter today. I'm grateful to be surrounded by a community of students working on technologies and solving global issues. If you know students aged 13-17 that are ambitious and curious, they will likely love the experience! Applications for next year are open. Check out the website: www.tks.world!
If you use my code "MACU18," you can give ambitious students $200 off their tuition. Deadline to apply is April 5th.
Hey you! Yes, you! Thanks for reading my newsletter! If you liked this and want more, please subscribe! Be intentional! Be legit! And don’t hesitate to connect with me!