The way mankind has been able to gain a better understanding of the world we live in, create, reshape, and debate ideas has always fascinated me. This is why Physics is one of my favourite subjects at school, and I am a keen reader of scientific journals, such as the French “Science et Vie” and “The New Scientist”, and follower of televised documentaries like Brian Cox’s “Wonders of the Universe” and the BBC’s “Horizon” series.

I am particularly interested in the role of Mechanics in modern day Physics, and the application of theoretical ideas to real-life examples. From a very young age, I have loved building things, ranging from simple electronic boards made with DIY kits, to small wind turbines, harnessing the energy of the wind in my back garden to produce electricity, to model rockets propelled by water and pressurized air. I have always been intrigued as to how objects I use in my everyday life work, and enjoy the logical aspect of Physics, and the way a complicated theory can always be explained in simple terms. This is why I have decided to study Mechanical Engineering in order to broaden my understanding of Physics and how it affects our lives. I strongly believe Science and Physics will have an important impact on our lives in the coming years, for example in the development of clean energy, the discovery of new materials that could lead to infinite possibilities in technology and medicine, and the advancement of aviation, as well as the growing area of robotics.

During my school life, I have enjoyed taking part in sporting events organised by the French charity “Justice au Coeur”, and in Maths competitions, including the French “Concours Kangourou” and “Olympiades de Maths”. My extracurricular activities include athletics at the Hercules Wimbledon Athletics Club; I also attended a scouts’ club in my neighbourhood, and have passed Grade 7 in drama with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

I am a native speaker of English and French, and hope to become completely fluent in German, which I am studying at school. I have also studied Latin at my school for six years, and am going to take it as a subject at the French Baccalauréat.

One of my main hobbies is model rocketry- I have built many rockets of my own design, powered by water and pressurized air, and flown them. While building these rockets, I carried out a great deal of calculations, as well as Internet research to determine the optimal fin dimensions, and proportions to give to my rockets in order to achieve the highest flight. This has greatly helped me understand the role of forces and aerodynamics in flight, and the principles of fluid mechanics. It is thanks to this hobby that I have focused my interest so much on the area of Engineering.

I completed two weeks of unpaid work experience in a WHSmith bookshop in Wimbledon in June 2012. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, as it helped me better understand the demands of the world of work, and taught me that teamwork and good communication are essential in any job. During these two weeks, my manager gave me various objectives to reach every day but allowed me to organise my time myself. This taught me how to manage my time better, and organise myself more efficiently when completing various tasks.

I am looking forward to studying Mechanical Engineering as it will allow me to deepen my understanding of a subject I am passionate about. As I have spent all my time up to now in the French education system, studying in a British university will be an enriching experience for me. I am especially drawn to this course as it will allow me to explore a wide range of subject areas, and open up many new opportunities for the future.