Since an early age I have always sought to understand how buildings and infrastructure were built, been an avid reader of science magazines and wanted to design these systems myself.

My childhood interest in engineering was confirmed when at 15 I designed and built the family garden deck single-handedly. Although successful there were set backs and lessons along the way such as the importance of accurate measurement and allowing for margins of error. I have been inspired by these challenges; they have driven my passion for civil engineering.

More recently, I led a sixth form team on an eco-housing project. We studied architectural and engineering solutions that help reduce houses’ impact on the environment. We concluded that finding answers applicable on a large scale is difficult. Solutions should be adapted to each house’s environment. I produced a model, created computer graphics and designed a website to present my research. This project demonstrated my ability to lead a large project and deliver this within a tight schedule. I was awarded the top mark in the class for this (18/20).

I now relish the opportunity of joining a premier civil engineering department and learning how to design complex infrastructure and major buildings.

I am among the top 10 students out of 240 in my school in Maths and Physics. I really enjoy focusing on solving Maths and Physics problems. Although these have always been my favourite courses, I have enjoyed the extensive nature of the French education system as all subjects provided me with valuable skills. I have learned from Latin a methodical approach to problem solving that has turned out to be most useful in Maths. History and as Geography have provided me with essential skills in understanding the long term impact of infrastructure on an area.

I enjoy scouting and have led several expeditions with younger boys. At a recent camp I organised the group into building a wooden platform for our tents which was strong enough to take our weight during a fortnight. Scouting has developed my autonomy and has made me an accountable and reliable person.

Last Easter, I cycled from London to Paris to raise funds for our local hospice. I planned this event myself from the beginning. I researched the route, found stopovers, set up the logistics and wrote a fund raising prospectus. I am very proud of this achievement: 450 km cycled in 5 days!

Another way of testing my endurance and determination is hiking. I always volunteer to hold the map: I like leading the group in an unknown area. I especially like trekking for several days as it is physically challenging to keep going and tests your ability to survive autonomously. The treks I am most proud of are a two week 250km trek in the Southern Alps in July 2010 and a five day 130km trek in Southern Scotland last summer. The midges were more challenging than the hike itself!

I am a keen rugby player, having played rugby since year 7. I was one of the first players of my school’s newly established rugby team. Sharing my passion and enthusiasm for the game, I recruited new players for the team. Helping new players to obtain the necessary abilities is a challenging as well as an extremely rewarding way of testing my rugby skills.

I am a French national; I have spent a total of 6 years in France, 2 years in South Africa and 11 in the U.K. My mother tongue is French, I speak English fluently and I have been studying German for 7 years. I am therefore keen to carry on my education in an international environment. In my professional life I would love to work on civil engineering projects worldwide. I am thrilled by structures such as the viaduct of Millau, Soccer City stadium or the Falkirk wheel and definitely want to build the next ones! I believe the best way for me to achieve this life project is to study engineering at a leading British university.