Ahnaf Khan

Introducing Genesis Ventures It starts with dinner and ends with a new generation of creators, innovators and builders. Inspired by our friends at @newsystems_ and at @ScholarsHQ , Genesis Ventures is here to spark a movement. Over the next year, our mission is simple: to accelerate the collisions of people, ideas, and ambition at Queen’s. We’re here to prove that connection is the foundation of creation. When you meet the right people, everything changes. Whether you’re an artist, athlete, or engineer, this is your space to meet those who make you want to do more. Our vision is twofold: 1. To redefine what social connection can look like. We’re creating the most intentional, meaningful experiences students have ever seen. 2. To inspire a new generation of creators. By connecting ambitious minds, we want to spark the ideas, friendships, and movements that shape the future. It all starts at the table. Grab a seat.

Sih (Stupid ideas hackathon) sign up today, link in replies

Released my personal website (WIP). aymankhan.ca Huge thanks to my brother @ahnafkhann, for lighting the fire I needed to get this out.

It’s a beautiful city. Have a great game tonight, ⁦@BlueJays⁩!

@towheretobegin whats it measure

guess what this measures

@immike_wing @franceszhao_ @kalliezhang_ @smitspatel11 @michellexyzhang @fred_h3 cooked so hard on this omg

stupid hackathon recap last weekend lol thanks @ahnafkhann @franceszhao_ @kalliezhang_ @smitspatel11 for hosting

Toronto's Stupid Ideas Hackathon at New Stadium

We won 1st Prize at the Stupid Hackathon!!! We built Dynamic PP 👅(link below) Thanks @franceszhao_ @kalliezhang_ and the entire team for organizing, it was super fun 😂😂

so much whimsy!

my first hackathon was stupid but couldn’t be any better we had some of the coolest people come to Toronto Stupid Hackathon and build silly things thanks sm to @tommytrinh and @newsystems_ for having the most aesthetic venue and lmk if anyone wants to host one themselves

#mordetwi at Toronto stupid hackathon

#mordetwi or mortified at the Toronto stupid hackathon

@jaryddiamond me when magic is real OMG

I turned my PRESTO card into a magic wand now it finally lives up to the name

@franceszhao_ this is so upsetting

if u guys ever need to hire a dj hmu 🤣

my favs @ScholarsHQ @cansbridgeproj are gathering ambitious, brave and kind young leaders all across North America for a bootcamp during SF tech week. little birdie told me there are some insane surprises on the agenda… don’t miss out - tr.ee/EOZN-irTPA

POV: you needed to prove something

One of my favorite realizations of life so far is that most “wins” always feel like coincidences unfolding naturally. It’s so freaking awesome too because it’s not even something that is specific to an individual. Whenever I listen to the way my friends, mentors, or notable people I look up to tell their stories, I notice this. All of their big moments of celebration have not come from them going about their life with a perfect plan in mind that they thought absolutely had to go accordingly or else their said goals could never be fulfilled. What they all have in common is persistence and a whole lot of grit. They all keep going and run their ideas into the ground. They make sure to stay aligned with their values, share their mission openly, and arguably what’s most important and impressive to me is how they invite everyone they meet along the way for the ride. Like that’s just so cool!!!!!!!

I actually went through this exact thought process and did eventually realize that dropping out was a scarcity mindset thing and not an abundance one. I will say though, the decision was still difficult for me as I was really struggling to think of what school had going for it at that point. Like yes, you’re absolutely surrounded by lots of smart people and it is an excellent opportunity to try new things and fail. But in the traditional sense where universities are supposed to be the place most abundant with intellectual discussions and debates, it didn’t feel like a lot of that was happening on my campus. So at this point, I am still trying to figure out how I can get the most out of my education. I was also talking about this with a prof today and he was like it would be over for universities soon if they didn’t figure out ways to better stimulate these conversations because at this point it seems the only place this happens is on the internet — or at least it is the most accessible place to have these conversations.

i’m noticing a trend of young people dropping out as a result of a scarcity mindset, unbeknownst to them. “i don’t know when an opportunity like this will come again.” i want to press everyone who says this to truly analyze whether a similar opportunity will arise again in two years. chances are, for most talented people, it absolutely will. a lot of founders and vcs are also aware of young people’s susceptibility to the scarcity mindset and leverage it as a tool to subtly fear-monger students into dropping out. it’s quite predatory, and i implore everyone to evaluate the options laid out in front of them with clarity not every phenomenal opportunity is actually once-in-a-lifetime. now, don’t get me wrong, i reevaluate taking a semester off every single semester, LOL. but, there's a careful evaluation process while knowing that i have time, and opportunities will arise again just as they did this time around. despite that, if dropping out still seems more compelling, then by all means go for it. just don’t let the decision be unknowingly rooted in scarcity.