I am an only child born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. From a very young age I have always been fascinated by the way in which things work and was characterised by my curiosity.

 

The majority of my childhood was spent on a sport's field, mostly cricket. I played 5 years of Provincial Cricket for Gauteng and captained 3 of those years.

 

I was then awarded a sporting scholarship to St John's College in Johannesburg where I started boarding at the age of 14. I loved the boarding house as it came as a stark contrast to my previous 13 years as an only child. It developed my confidence and fed my natural sense of competition.

 

I once again focussed on my sports while at high school and played five first team sports (cricket, hockey, tennis, squash and athletics). I had a serious stress fracture to my lower back when I was 16 which prevented me from playing any sport or even running for 6 months. During this time I developed my skill and passion for technology and certainly owe my academic success to this break from sport.

 

In my final year I was elected as head of my boarding house and was put in charge of 120 boys. I was also the head of discipline for the school meaning that I was in charge of the suspension and expulsion of my peers. This was a very difficult job but it certainly matured me and developed a very strict sense of justice in me.

 

I graduated from high school with distinctions in all my subjects (9 subjects) at an average of 90%. I was then awarded a scholarship to the University of Cape Town as well as a place on the intern program for BBD.

 

I focussed on my studies at university but still found time for other activites. I have played social tennis, squash, golf, soccer, cricket and hockey during my time at UCT. I captained my residence's internal hockey side in my second year and have served as captain of my external hockey team.

 

I have developed a love for my field of studt while at university and spend lots of my free time playing with electronics and developing software. I also enjoy playing video games or sharing a drink with my friends. While my serious sporting days are behind me I still enjoy being active and playing social sport, I spend lots of my holidays on the golf course where I play off a 6 handicap.

 

I have always prided myself on finding a balance in my life between work, sport and social. This balance has proved more and more difficult as time has gone on but I am still proud to consider myself a well rounded individual.