About Me
I am Timothée de Raucourt, a third-year software engineering student at York University. I started out in game development when I was younger, which helped me build strong problem-solving skills, creativity and a builder mindset. Outside of class, I lift at the gym, play video games and work on side projects. I’m interested in building things people actually use and the challenge of designing, engineering and shipping products. What makes me unique is that I turn ideas into reality and can teach myself whatever I need along the way.
I grew up in Toronto, in a fairly typical urban neighborhood. Day to day was simple and relaxed: school, spending time with siblings and friends, and playing on the computer. I didn’t know any programmers in real life, so I learned almost everything from online resources and trial and error. With supportive family and friends, I kept building small projects and teaching myself new skills, which shaped the builder mindset I have today.
I applied to York University because it was close to home and offered a computer science program. The program was full and I got deferred into software engineering. I’m grateful for that change because software engineering is more practical and hands-on. My biggest strength is that I’m building a career I genuinely enjoy, which makes it easier to stay motivated and keep improving.
One of my biggest inspirations is my high school teacher who taught physics and computer science. They explained concepts thoroughly and were always curious about the derivations and origins behind what we learn today. I admire the way they approach learning and how they focus on practical applications of each concept. This teacher encouraged me to join a computer science competition, which I entered as a learning experience and as a way to see what I was capable of.
Figure 1. Skills Ontario Competition, 2023.
The artifact I chose is a photo of me competing in my first programming challenge at the Skills Ontario 2023 competition. I selected this photo because it captures me in the middle of a real problem-solving and high-pressure environment, planning, debugging, coding, testing, and fixing under pressure. It was one of the first times I applied my skills in a real-world setting. This artifact represents who I am because it shows my passion for building and my ability to think quickly, adapt, troubleshoot, and perform under pressure.