14-Year-Old Prodigy Graduates from Santa Clara University and Scores a Job at SpaceX

14-Year-Old Prodigy Graduates from Santa Clara University and Scores a Job at SpaceXGoogle Maps
Nina Singh-Hudson
Published on June 07, 2023

Kairan Quazi is no ordinary teenager. At just 14 years old, he recently graduated from Santa Clara University, making history as the youngest graduate in the institution's lengthy past. As if that weren't impressive enough, he's now about to embark on a career with none other than SpaceX, working as a software engineer on their Starlink team according to The Mercury News.

 

 

But who exactly is Kairan Quazi, and how did he come to be such a standout in the world of academia and technology? Kairan's story is truly remarkable. From a young age, it was clear he was extraordinary. His intellectual and emotional intelligence far surpassed his peers, with doctors determining that his IQ was above the 99.9th percentile of the general population as reported by BrainGain Magazine. Furthermore, Kairan's exceptional social skills allowed him to integrate well into diverse settings, even making college friends despite his young age.

Realizing mainstream education wouldn't cater to Kairan's advanced learning abilities, his parents sought alternative paths. He began attending Las Positas, a community college in Livermore, at only 9 years old, where he showed immense skill in asynchronous learning, tackling complex subjects like linear algebra before ever taking an algebra course. At the age of 11, Kairan transferred to Santa Clara University to pursue computer science and engineering studies. It was here at Santa Clara where Kairan would come into his own.

During his time at Santa Clara University, Kairan became a beloved figure both academically and socially. He was a member of the Association for Computer Machinery, a senior senator in the Associated Student Government, and even worked as a highly sought-after tutor. Ahmed Amer, Kairan's academic advisor and an associate professor of computer science and engineering, praised him as a "delight to teach," commending his genuine eagerness to dive deep into course material and ask thought-provoking questions.

But for all his achievements, Kairan's journey was not without challenges. Despite his strong abilities, Kairan faced skepticism from employers, with numerous rejections before finally landing a coveted job at SpaceX - a company known for hiring only the top 0.2% of applicants.

At only 14 years old, Kairan Quazi has already made waves in the worlds of academia and technology. With his upcoming move to Washington state to begin working for SpaceX’s Starlink team, there's no telling what incredible feats he'll achieve in the future.