Alumni Success Story: Kevin Nolasco, ’13
Kevin Nolasco, Da Vinci Design Class of ’13
Current Position: Data Scientist at TikTok
Industry: Technology
Lesson Learned: “Follow your passions. If something is interesting to you, do whatever you can to be the best you can be at it. Da Vinci is a place where you have the freedom to try new things, to fail/succeed, and to learn from those moments.”
Kevin Nolasco’s story serves as a testament to the power of setting goals, pursuing dreams, and building resilience. This kind of determination is representative of both Da Vinci students and alumni.
Growing up as the middle child among two sisters in a household with immigrant parents from Central America, Kevin faced firsthand the challenges of financial instability and limited opportunities.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Kevin acknowledges his parents’ sacrifices and unwavering commitment to education. “My parents did not have the opportunity to attend college or finish high school, so they always wanted us to go to college,” he shares. Despite their lack of formal schooling, they instilled in him a desire to pursue higher education. He is the first person in his family to earn a high school diploma, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees.
As a first-generation college student, Kevin relied heavily on the resources provided by Da Vinci, particularly workshops that focused on the college application process and how to apply for financial aid. These resources proved invaluable, enabling him to win a $50,000 scholarship, covering nearly 80% of his first-year college tuition at Boston University.
Kevin’s diverse interests, ranging from mathematics to music, illustrate his multifaceted approach to life. Although math was his favorite subject in high school, Kevin had dreams of writing film scores and accepted an offer to study Music at Boston University. Being a self-taught musician, Kevin struggled with imposter syndrome and eventually left BU, transitioning into studying Applied Mathematics at UC Santa Barbara. This set the foundation for Kevin’s professional career now as a data scientist – it’s a field that fascinates him for its application of mathematical concepts to solve complex problems.
“Getting my bachelor’s degree was a huge moment for me because I originally dropped out of college. It took me 3 extra years to complete my bachelor’s degree because of this decision, but I’m incredibly proud of myself for sticking to it and accomplishing my goal,” he continued.
A natural self-starter, Kevin found inspiration in the book Ultralearning by Scott Young, which emphasized experimentation and hands-on application. With this philosophy, Kevin developed a computer vision model for detecting ocean waves, which combined his passion for surfing and his growing interest in data science. His project received attention on LinkedIn, ultimately leading to an invitation to contribute to a similar project for the U.S. Surf Olympic Committee at Microsoft’s private hackathon.
This experience, coupled with his academic achievements, paved the way for Kevin’s acceptance into a graduate program at Cabrini University studying Data Science, a subsequent internship at AAA, and now a full-time position as a Data Scientist at TikTok. In his role, he leverages his analytical skills to drive product improvements and to collaborate on innovative projects.
Reflecting on how project-based learning prepared him for the work he’s doing now, Kevin shares, “The real world is filled with projects. The real world doesn’t hand you a rubric for how you’ll be graded. The real world will present a problem and require you to figure it out. I think Da Vinci did a good job in preparing us for that kind of work.”
Kevin’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of perseverance, self-discovery, and the pursuit of passions.
His advice for Da Vinci students: “Follow your passions. If something is interesting to you, do whatever you can to be the best you can be at it. Da Vinci is a place where you have the freedom to try new things, to fail/succeed, and to learn from those moments. The real world is just like that. The more you can get used to being out of your comfort zone and trying something new, the more you’ll learn and grow.”
Da Vinci Schools is now hosting an Alumni Association LinkedIn Group to stay connected, celebrate success stories, and support each other in their personal and professional endeavors. To join, click here.
