Feb - figuring out the future, tinkering with my robot and a harvard business case study...
Shelly's February 2024 Newsletter
Hey!👋 I’m Shelly, February has gone by in the blink of an eye, and I'm eager to share what I’ve been up to...
I'm a South African 16-year-old passionate about emerging technologies such as robotics 🤖 holding the potential to create disruptive impact!🌎 What truly drives me to seek solutions is climate change & poverty.
TKS - The Knowledge Society 🧠
TKS is an online course I started in September designed for teenagers with a focus on developing their skills in emerging technologies & innovation to empower them to make a ‘dent in the universe’. Building a mini Mars rover 🤖
This month I’ve been busy grinding to finish this robotics project leading to multiple moments of “pivoting”. I’m almost done though and hope to have the finished product whizzing around soon.
This mini Mars rover is a robot with mecanum wheels and a robotic arm that is controlled over Bluetooth from my phone.
You can always count on a robotics project to not go to plan. More than anything working on robotics projects teaches me grit and determination.
Doing a Harvard business case study📝
During a tks session we embarked on Harvard Business Case Study: analysing the growth of Starbucks in China.
For 3 hours we dove deep in an attempt to answer how Starbucks can manage its growth through digital innovation. I learnt a lot:
China really likes its coffee ☕
No factor exists in isolation - everything impacts everything, laser focus is good but never forget to consider the bigger picture. 🖼️
Sometimes you’ve got to make decisions based on incomplete data - in life, you’re not always going to have all the data points, you’re going to need to make assumptions. So learn how to make them well. 🤔
Upcoming TKS challenge 💪
This March I will be doing a challenge! TKS is partnering with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to solve some real-world problems. Real problems, with real solutions and real impact.
We’ll be working on this problem statement:
How do we utilize modern tools for education to help students understand global challenges and problems that exist in the world?
Shelly’s Street Smarts💡
A bright look into the future💥
I had the most painful L.O. (life orientation - which is the most useless subject) project to complete this month for school. Of course, I did what all teenagers do and started it the weekend before it was due.
Little did I know that this project would become a forcing function for me to think about life post-high school. Something that I’ve been avoiding… I had to research potential faculties, undergraduate programs and institutions that I was interested in.
To be honest I’m even more confused than what I was before with what to do with the rest of my life. I’ve reached an impasse in my internal conflict.
A glimpse into my brain: Do I study abroad following a more unconventional root? Do I study in South Africa to save costs? Do I study engineering, economics or law? Should I even study at all?
I think that everyone my age can relate to how overwhelming planning for the future is. So here is some encouragement:
Perhaps you were born for a time such as this. - Esther 4:14
I can’t tell you what your future will look like, but I know that it will be breathtakingly marvellous. You are here, right now, placed perfectly for a purpose. You were knitted together in your mother’s womb, intricately designed for a future filled with wonders.
Surrendering your future allows you to walk with freedom in the present. Never forget that you are God’s workmanship designed for a life of abundance.
What you’ll see in my next newsletter👀
TKS WEF challenge
Attending a webinar hosted by Martin Walsh - former Stanford admissions officer
Robotics projects
Hockey tour
Let’s Connect🔗:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/l-chelle-bester-683463294/
Email: lchelle.best@gmail.com
So much fun to read! Looking forward to next month😁
Such lovely thoughtful self-reflections and pondering…always so enjoy reading your newsletters!