Achievements

Warning: massive ego building, immodesty and self aggrandisement ahead. If you'd rather not subject yourself to significant boasting, click the back button on your browser now.

There are times when I get lost and confused, when the task before me seems impossible. At those times, all I need to do is take a break, do something else for a while and come back when my head is clearer. But sometimes the mental block lasts for days, even weeks. That's when I need something to remind me that I can get through this, I've been through complicated tasks before and achieved things I never thought I would. If I can do all those things, I can get through this current task too.

This page isn't really for public viewing. It's intended for myself, to help me get back on track when I need a confidence boost. I realize some people are curious about my past achievements though, and it's the sort of thing you'd see in a resume anyway. So, here it is:

Academia

Completed a Bachelor's Degree in Computer & Mathematical Sciences (BCM) from the University of Western Australia. (That's despite getting test scores as low as 30% back in high school for mathematics... it is possible to make a stunning comeback.)
93% in Foundations of Programming 120 (University of Western Australia)
Private tutor for Foundations of Computer Science (CS123), first half 2000.
Second place in the Computing section of the Science Talent Search (1995) with my program Surmener, a French language tutor program written in QBasic.
Recipient of a John Allen Williams science scholarship.
Distinctions in the Australian Mathematics Competition
Distinctions in Word Processing
Completed high school level studies in Applicable Maths, Calculus, Chemistry, English Literature, French and Physics.
One of only two students to achieve a 100% score across all mental maths tests through the entire year in my Year 8 mathematics class.
Citizenship award in final year at primary school

Business

Sold my first self-produced product at age 16 - copies of Rubicon, my first album/demotape.
Started my first business at age 21.
Released my own software:
- Softener (Photoshop Plugin), March 2001
- Autochromatic (Photoshop Plugin), March 2001
- WebScriber (PHP web server script), June 2003
- Plaid Lite (Photoshop Plugin), August 2003
Had my software published on the cover CDs of magazines worldwide, including Digital Photography Techniques, Australian Personal Computer, Digital Camera Magazine (in the UK & Spain), Computer Arts Special (in the UK & France), MdN (in Japan), Computer Graphics & Publishing (in Italy) and PC Plus (in Spain).
Had my software reviewed on the website of PC World, US edition.
Earned more than $1000 in a month from sales of my shareware software alone - self-written, self-marketed. (2003)
Various software awards:
- Softener
  - 5/5 from File Hungry
  - 5/5 from Paul's Picks
  - 4/5 from WebAttack
- Autochromatic
  - Described by Digital Camera Techniques magazine as "A powerful tool for creating colourised greyscale effects as well as duotone and tritone images" (issue 4, pg 97).
Sold self-written software to over 600 customers, including large / well-known clients such as Curve Magazine and the University of Miami.
Custom programming work for Evie Leder Web Design / Dotgarden.
Contributed to code used by PowerRetouche and The Plugin Site.
Supported developers such as Richard Rosenman and Jack Zagaja.
Private beta tester for:
- Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8, 9
- Jasc Paint Shop Pro Studio 1
- yellowTAB Zeta
- RBC Audio Voice Tweaker
- Xentronix Refraction
- HyperTyle
- ColorWasher 1.0 & 2.0
- FocalBlade
Developed a CD-ROM HTML interface for Apex Envirocare.
Designed and produced the website for 2liar, a US/UK acoustic ambient-rock group.
Webmaster for blacknotgreen.com, website of UK-based dance-rock crossover band black:not:green.
Certificate of Appreciation for "outstanding volunteerism and contributions" to the Association of Shareware Professionals.
Presented a paper on Beta Testing at the Software Industry Conference (SIC) in Denver, Colorado in 2005.

Creative Writing

Consistently received "+" scores for my short stories in Year 7 Creative Writing. The stories were normally marked numerically, but the teacher felt my stories were "off the scale" for their quality.
A winner in the short story competition run by the West Australian (circa 1989?)
Winner of a Swancon short story competition - but considering there was only one entry it doesn't really count!
Runner-up in Timezone's short story competition (circa 1994?)

Music

Wrote my first song at age 5 - just a simple one.
Longest serving member of the St. Stephen's School Senior Choir (1993 - 1997).
Released my first self-produced demotape "Rubicon" at age 16 (1997). Sold roughly 50 copies.
Reached #8 on the Trax In Space Rave charts with the track "Get Down And Rave". (1998) Track also appeared on the Trax In Space compilation CD "Interstellar Harmony". Apparently Trax In Space was one of the Top 10 music sites on the internet, but no-one ever told me at the time.
Wrote a soundtrack to a short film, "Fingers", entered in the Nescafe Short Film Awards.
Nominated for Song Of The Year at the WAMi Awards for "Theme From Fingers" (April 2003).

Sport & Fitness

Attended the Pam Hatt Tennis College from 1986 (?) to 1992. Graduated to Senior Certificate level.
Award for Most Improved Player at the Pam Hatt Tennis College, 1991
Competed in the interschool hockey competition (1994, 1995?), and was a member of the #1 team that year. Doesn't mean I was a significant player though!
Competed in the 800m track event at our school sports carnival (1995). Came second to a state champion, Johnny Dimov. All this despite getting D's in Physical Education... but I did train every morning before school for several weeks. There were kids who laughed at me training too.
Due to my placing in the 800m, competed in the interschool sports carnival in the 800m and 1500m. The 1500m came about because our designated competitor dropped out at the last minute. I hadn't trained for the event, but I was there. The other competitor in that event from our school was Johnny Dimov, the record holder for the 1500m since 1997 (source: http://www.accsport.asn.au/download/results/AREC.PDF).
Joined an inner-city gym (early September 2003) after a six-year exercise hiatus.
Trained with Ashley Segar from Dynamic Profile Training throughout October 2003.
Trained with Glen Jones (the 2003 WA Personal Trainer of the Year) from November 2003 - March 2004. Glen also taught me the basics of boxing.
Trained with Zuzana Karcelova from April 2005 - February 2007. My favorite trainer so far, and has become a trusted friend.
Reduced my body fat percentage from 21% to 15.2%.
Completed the 12km 2004 City To Surf fun-run in 01:23:41

Weirdo Stuff

Gave up caffeine, 15 Feb 2000
Met the lead singer of KMFDM, 10 Dec 2004
Visited Kurt Cobain's hometown, July 2005

So there you have it. Looks like a lot of acheivements, doesn't it? But that's my point - without a written list, it's easy to forget all your past achievements and think you've only experienced success once or twice in your life. It's all about how you look at it. When you take the time to list everything, you realize that you've accomplished a lot - and there's still a lot that you can accomplish.

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