Kairan Quazi is not your average teenager. He has just graduated from Santa Clara University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering, making him the youngest-ever graduate in the 172-year history of the institution. And he is not stopping there. He has also landed a job at SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, where he will work as a software engineer on the Starlink project.
Kairan, who was born in California to Bangladeshi parents, has always shown exceptional intelligence and curiosity. He started speaking in full sentences at age 2, and by age 5, he was already aware of global issues such as the Syrian civil war. He was diagnosed as “profoundly gifted”, with an IQ above the 99.9th percentile of the general population.
But Kairan is not just a genius. He is also a social butterfly, who enjoys making friends and participating in extracurricular activities. 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.
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.
As he steps into this new chapter, Quazi carries with him the wisdom imparted by his mother: “we’re always where we are supposed to be.”
He also has a message for other young people who aspire to follow their dreams: “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. Just go for it.”
