Class of 2025 Spotlight: Three Questions with Kali W. 🇰🇪

Kali, who joined TGS from Kenya in 2023, has had incredible experiences alongside her classmates across seven (soon to be eight 🇮🇹) countries over the last two years. From scuba diving in Australia to experiencing Tet in Vietnam, Kali has seen the world, learned from its inhabitants, and gained perspectives that we hope will inform her for years to come. To close out her TGS career, Kali is putting together a TEDx event focused on the theme “Learning Without Limits,” and we’ll be sharing more about the event very soon. Congrats, Kali, and we can’t wait to experience TEDxTHINK next month! 🎉

1) How has TGS challenged you to step outside your comfort zone? 

Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, I was raised in a bubble, but I always knew that I wanted to challenge the world as it was familiar to me. Going to TGS allowed me to do so by stepping outside my comfort zone and doing things I would never have considered before. Getting my Open Water SSI certification by scuba diving in Australia, learning how to wield a katana in Japan, cycling across the island of Agistri in Greece, seeing pink dolphins while bird watching on the Amazon River in Brazil, and learning how to make egg coffee in Vietnam were all experiences that shaped my time at TGS. It’s safe to say that I entered a world of innovative education, gaining an understanding of what it means to let go of fear and embrace unpredictability.

2) Thinking about the various modules that you have taken part in, is there a specific one that you particularly enjoyed? Why?

I especially enjoyed the “I See You” module in Australia, led by Sam and Rachel. This module was transformative for me because I had the privilege of learning about Aboriginal Australian history, culture, and spiritual connection to nature. I then conveyed my learning by creating a mini-documentary exploring these concepts. Our experiences included going to the Lume Museum and Narana Cultural Center in Melbourne and interviewing Prof. Wayne Quilliam (curator of the Lume) and Aunti Sherri (an author and activist), among other excursions. For our WeXplore, we went to  Innisvale, Cairns, where we stayed with the Goondoi community. We had the opportunity to experience a saltwater welcoming ceremony, learn about animals and plants that are indigenous to the area, go on a night boat tour, and spend a day at Radiant Life College, a local school. Swimming in sting-ray-infested waters, watching the sunset from a boat, and learning the “Goondoi” dance by a bonfire at night were experiences that I’ll truly always remember. But the most unforgettable moments from the trip were definitely eating wallaby steak and almost getting attacked by a 6-foot-tall cassowary (the world’s most dangerous bird) on the beach!

3) How do you think your education at TGS has prepared you for your professional life? 

The biggest challenge that I’ve taken on at TGS has been my mastery project, in which I’ve become the primary organizer of a TEDx event. Doing so has allowed me to gain skills in project management and networking, as well as explore the skill of leadership. Attending countless meetings, interviewing applicants, and overseeing logistics hasn’t been easy. But I’m so grateful for the experience I’ve gained because getting a glimpse of the professional world is something I have the privilege of doing as a high schooler. What I ultimately hope to gain by hosting this event is to inspire young people worldwide through TED talks that explore the theme of “Learning Without Limits.” I want people of all demographics to understand that no matter who they are and what resources they have access to, they are capable of creating change in the world.