“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”
Oscar Wilde
“Tomorrow is forever, and years pass in no time at all.”
Unknown
“A wise man sees not the same tree that a fool sees.”
Unknown
A big aspect of recruiting any new member to a development team is how they will mesh with the group, and their personality plays a large part in that. I hope that I have already proven my ability to communicate effectively throughout this portfolio website; this section is more about me as a person, as a friend, and as a coworker.
I've been told that the first thing people notice upon meeting me is that I have a very friendly smile, and that I'm easy to get along with. I was raised in a very respectful environment, where arguments were always defused and turned into calm discussions, and I am glad to say that this cool-headedness has now been etched into my adult personality. Add in sincerity and a genuine smile, and any problem can be resolved quickly and efficiently.
Furthermore, I have held numerous jobs in customer service as well as the restaurant industry. These have taught me some of the more professional methods of conflict resolution, client relations, and of simply being approachable.
In my later years in High School, I excelled in the sciences and math. As the University Decision approached and my mind was unsure, I opted for the program that I thought would be the best for bettering myself intellectually: Mathematics. I have always been very logical, and I figured that a mathematics degree would raise my logical capacity even further. After two years in the program, I decided that the mathematics lifestyle was not quite as wonderful as I had first imagined, and opted instead for a minor in the subject.
In my third year I made the switch into the Political Science Honours program. It held a similar appeal in that it dealt with problems and issues which could potentially be solved through a logical approach, though these issues held the benefit of being far more entrenched in 'the real world'. This program greatly sharpened my ability to communicate, and gave me a great deal of analytical training. I actively try to approach any issue or topic with as little bias as possible, and I have no issue stemming my pride should a previous opinion of mine be shown to be less than optimal.
I also realize that I will never know everything, that there is always more to learn. I look forward to learning anything you will be willing to teach me!
I have always been active, but I believe we all realize that it becomes harder and harder to stay active as our careers unfold and we gain more responsibilities. As such, I am open to trying almost any new activity, and love to organize group outings! In the last year I began playing soccer with a local team, and have had a blast as their dedicated goalkeeper. It has become a new passion of mine!
A few years ago I discovered the up-and-coming athletic discipline called Parkour, or Free-Running. Simply put, it is the art of overcoming obstacles. This is done through the practice of specific techniques combined with athletic conditioning, often using the standard urban architecture found all around us. It is an extremely exciting hobby, and an unbelievable workout.
I also enjoy the simple act of jogging, and occasionally partake in dozens of other activities, including: soccer goalkeeping, rock climbing, white water rafting, skydiving, bunjee jumping, football, ultimate frisbee, scuba diving, martial arts, surfing, horseshoes and snowboarding.
I'm a movie fiend, and am always entertaining friends with my expansive collection and mounted projector. My friends and I have often had epic tabletop battles of Axis & Allies, Fireball Island, Last Night On Earth and other assorted board games. I much prefer sitting down in a pub with good friends instead of wandering a crowded club. I've been known to play the guitar, and have even been in my own failed band. And of course, there are the video games!
Without going into too much detail, I Am A Gamer. I am active on numerous forums and in many communities, and generally put in a few game- or design-related hours every night.
I currently own both an Xbox 360 and a PS3 with about fifty games total. My most played are currently Just Cause 2, MW2, Shadow Complex, Geometry Wars 2, and Borderlands.
Despite my enjoyment of consoles, I am mainly a PC Gamer. My two long-term staples have been both the Counter-Strike games, and then Natural Selection, all the while dabbling in every game worthy of a purchase. Which is quite a few. For PC Gaming, I'm also currently playing TF2, Left 4 Dead 2, Red Alert 3, and a slew of indie games. And my number of games on Steam actually surpasses my console games.
Of course, all the while, game and level design has been a huge part of my life.
This has been my attempt at helping you, a prospective employer, get to know me a bit better from the comfort of your office. Of course, an in-person interview would reveal even more, so I'm looking forward to your call!