About me

I am naturally a very creative person with a passion for art and design, but I am also good at mathematics. I have chosen architecture because it is a balance between artistic creativity and logical and scientific skills, combining different ways of thinking: creativity, design and diversity with the rigour and discipline of achieving set goals, using logic, communication, client skills, management, team work with other disciplines, managing projects to budgets and working with materials, technology and environment.

My school subjects (exams Nov 2011) were chosen to prepare for architecture and design: Visual arts, design, physical science (physics and chemistry), maths, English, French and life orientation. I am naturally talented at all forms of creative visual art and have been drawing since I was very young, gaining enough experience to draw both from my mind and from observation in great detail. I have also studied basic principles of design and architecture, architectural history and theory, and "super designers" and their methods. Other skills include communicating visually through Sketch-Up, freehand sketches, 1- and 2-point perspective drawings, manufacturing drawings, detailed 3-D drawing, observation drawing, portfolio work (ideation and development work), model-building, ergonomic and functional considerations, client marketing, design history, design process, application and understanding of all design elements and principles. I enjoy challenges that combine skills, such as drawing and sketching in detailed 3D composition as well as developing unique ideas that are effective and aesthetically pleasing. I learnt to use different skills to solve problems, prepare and present arguments, think in different modes and apply my values. By nature I am a leader, experienced in leading projects, hard working and striving to learn and develop new skills or other ways to push new limits.

My work experience has been in two architectural firms (in Ethiopia), a graphic design company (in Namibia), helping with youth campaigns at UNICEF, volunteering at a youth drop-in centre Ababa, and time with a music production studio (Ninja Tunes, London), People Tree (ethical fashion company), and shadowing a Namibian international illustrator and animator called Steffen List. At the architecture and design firms I learnt Sketch-up, basics of AUTOCAD, tricks and tools, positive communication and client management. The experience helped cement my plans that architecture is my true passion.

My proudest accomplishment is to use these skills in a business I am setting up myself, called MunkiNation. It has begun as a graphic clothing trend supported by its own website, Facebook and Twitter. I did market testing, produced tee-shirts and sold the first range in a week, making over £150 profit. I will continue to develop Munkination as I gain more experience and to use its youth message and communication where relevant in my architecture.

Other achievements I am proud of include being a prefect responsible for community engagement, because it gave me the opportunity to lead. I had completed the gold in the President's Award (equivalent to Duke of Edinburgh) and the prefect post was to encourage others and coordinate community projects and fund-raising. I co-ordinated and managed several committees and we successfully reached our goals. I was picked to speak on behalf of the school when President Jacob Zuma visited, as I enjoy verbal communication (public speaking and debating). I also mobilized our school house and we won an art award after 17 years' domination by another house. My hobbies are: drawing, graphic design, computer illustrating, photography and music (DJ, I play guitar and drums). I also enjoy social networking and sports.

I dream big. I will start by gaining experience in different firms for some years, but in the end I aspire to create something new that will change lives and make history. I have passion, talent and adaptability; I can get things done, meet challenges and reach my goals. For me three factors are essential to succeed: a good education, talent and passion. I believe I already possess two but need a good university to reach my greatest potential.