Hey there!
If you’re reading this you’re probably what TKS, The Knowledge Society is. So let me share with you an honest review from one of their students.
First of all, let me start by asking a few questions we often forget to ask ourselves:
- How were you a year ago?
- How were you six months ago?
- Have you changed much?
- What is the biggest thing you’ve done that you’re proud of?
See, these are questions that are necessary in order to know how we are spending our time and if we are working towards our goals. And it’s okay if you haven’t done much, now that you’ve reflected a little, it’s time to start, to make a change.
But I know it’s not that simple, I was in the same place 10 months ago. I was an eager student looking to make a big impactful change in the world of sustainability because that’s my passion. Yet as happens with many people, I was quite lost, I had no starting point, I didn’t know what to do. Fortunately, one day, while I was scrolling through Instagram, I saw an ad about TKS. So I did my own research and honestly, I fell quite in love, don’t get me wrong, but I knew I wanted to be part of this community because we shared the same vision, make an impact on the world.
Application process
So that’s when I started my application process, and I was stunned by it. See, they don’t even have a word limit, it’s just you being you. They don’t want all the fancy essays you do at school, but they are rather looking to know you a little, to learn about you. So be yourself and be honest, use your humor, and let them know who you are.
The next step is a meeting. Yes, you will meet through Zoom with one of the directors who will ask you a few questions, again, about yourself, but don’t let your thoughts get to you. It happened to me the first time I applied, I went completely blank, but I know you’ll do better, just trust yourself, and try to be calm, they are all really nice when you get to know them better.
Now, something that might stop many from applying is the price. Although TKS doesn’t let your economic situation stop you from learning, in fact, if need it, it helps with financial aid. When I got in, I got this help and I know of many other students who wouldn’t be in the program if it wasn’t for it.
What I have learned and experienced
When we get asked by our Directors what it’s TKS, it is quite hard to explain.
By definition, TKS is “a global human accelerator designed to train young people to maximize their ability to make an impact in the world.”
But to the students, it’s something else.
I’d like to describe it as a place to grow, to find your passion, to get your hands dirty. It’s much more than a program, it’s a community full of passionate people working towards different but big goals.
Expanding curiosity
TKS Life, where you will have a profile and post your content, also has what’s called ‘Explore modules’ where you learn in-depth about innovative technology and science and you can do your focus based on some of those topics.
A focus is like your own personal project, is your content for you to post and share with the world. So you don’t just use words but also take action, show the world what you know, what you’ve worked on. Though you do it alone, you’re provided with guidance when you’re stuck, but before anything, you have to try and figure it out.
I did mine in Gene editing, to be precise I looked into ways in which algae you be genetically modified to produce more biofuels, and I’m currently doing one of the last phases of my focus.
I remember back when I started, I barely knew anything about gene editing, now when I talk to experts, they get impressed with us, people in the program, working on these projects with our age, and then I realize how much I’ve learned.
And yes, we also learn to reach out, to talk to experts and lose the fear of sending a cold email, a message asking for help, for feedback etc.
Opportunities
TKS isn’t only about that project, the focus, but you also get the chance to work alongside huge companies. They give you a true problem statement they are struggling with and you have 4 weeks to build a standalone deck with deep research proposing a way to solve it. Then, you could even have the chance to present it to the company.
For example, I had the chance to work alongside TikTok and Instagram, but I could have worked with Microsoft or the WEF. Impressive right? We even had the change to pick the problem statement we were interested in working on, meaning, picking the company.
Another thing, which doesn’t always happen, but could, is attending events and conferences. Fortunately, I did have this change just 3 months into the program. I had the opportunity to join Puzzle X and to present on stage my focus. It was scary indeed, but my Director Damian, helped us to prepare by doing reps over reps because they are always there for you, you just have to as for it, and they’ll help you and guide you.
Growing
The program however’s not only about building content but growing as a person. Especially if you later on decide to join Velocity, which is for those who want to give more of themselves. Because you get weekly content to learn about mindsets, a community to keep you accountable, weekly calls and reflections. Velocity it’s not mandatory, but I’ll highly recommend it, yet you also get to learn about mindsets during the sessions.
Now, why I love mindsets so much it’s because you reflect on things that maybe you weren’t aware of before, you start applying them to your life (not all, but many, mainly the ones you found most interesting) and truly it helps you grow as a person, think more unconventionally, not worry about things out of your hands, be more self-aware and much more.
Community
Lastly, although I could keep going and talking about how much TKS has helped me, I’d like to mention the community. As I said previously, the students are eager to learn, they are passionate and some working on other things, even outside the program that are inspiring. You can reach out to them, even to those you have completed the program and they will always be open to help you. We help one another. They are nice and friendly, in fact, when I went to Puzzle X, I had the chance to meet other TKS students in person, and they were all super friendly, it felt like we had known each other from before.
It is also the director however, you can count on them, set one on ones whenever you need to, or want you, you can even keep in touch with them after you’ve completed the programs, you will have access to them and the tools.
At TKS you will build an entire network, from students, to directors to even experts. And I’ll like to get truly honest with you, and also tell you those things which I didn’t like much, but I’m being honest, and I truly enjoyed joining the program. There aren’t much “negative” comments I could say about it. So if you’re passionate about something, you want to make big changes, you want to build a strong community and network, I’ll highly recommend you joining in.
Keep something in mind though, at TKS you get what you put it.
