Interests | Louis Gouders

Automotive / Motorsport

Growing up in Spa, Belgium, surrounded by motorsport, my passion for racing has played a crucial role in shaping my development as a future mechanical engineer in the motorsport industry. Motorsport has taught me valuable skills such as precision, problem-solving, and innovation, which are essential in engineering. The fast-paced nature of racing has helped me develop resilience and adaptability, while teamwork and collaboration have shown me the importance of collective effort in both motorsport and engineering. Additionally, the constant drive for innovation in motorsport has fueled my enthusiasm for advancing technology. This passion has provided me with the skills and mindset needed to succeed in the engineering field, particularly within motorsport.

Sports

Skydiving

Skydiving offers both mental and physical benefits, particularly in stress management. The intense focus required during a jump helps you stay present, reducing anxiety and tension. It also trains you to remain calm in high-risk situations, enhancing emotional control and decision-making under pressure. Beyond these mental benefits, skydiving is an exhilarating sport that combines adrenaline with the joy of flight, pushing personal limits and fostering a sense of accomplishment. Ultimately, it’s a rewarding experience that promotes stress relief, growth, and pure enjoyment.

Team sports - football and basketball

Participating in team sports like football and basketball for more than 15 years doesn’t just enhance physical fitness but contributes significantly to the development of our character. It teaches us how to collaborate, communicate effectively, and value the power of collective effort, all of which shape us into more adaptable, empathetic, and well-rounded individuals.

Cooking

Cooking is a powerful form of creativity, where ingredients become your medium and the kitchen your canvas. It allows you to experiment with flavors, textures, and techniques, blending tradition with innovation to create unique dishes. Each step in cooking offers an opportunity for personal expression, whether by adjusting recipes or exploring new ingredients. The sensory experience—sight, smell, and taste—further enhances this creative process. Above all, cooking encourages you to think outside the box, embrace trial and error, and continuously refine your skills, making it an endlessly rewarding and dynamic outlet for creativity.

Theater

Playing theater roles like Oliver Kilbourn in The Pitmen Painters and Malvolio in Twelfth Night offers significant personal and artistic growth. As Oliver, the role deepens empathy and understanding of social class, while exploring themes of identity and self-expression in the context of working-class life. Playing Malvolio, on the other hand, challenges the actor to portray both comic and tragic elements, developing versatility in handling complex emotions and character flaws. Together, these roles foster creativity, emotional intelligence, and a greater understanding of human nature, enhancing both acting skills and personal growth.

Oliver Kilbourn - The Pitmen Painters (Lee Hall)

Malvolio -Twelfth Night, Or What You Will (Shakespeare)

Classics

Studying classics, such as Latin and Ancient Greek, offers numerous cognitive benefits, especially for those with a mind oriented towards mathematics. These languages encourage a deeper understanding of structure, logic, and precision, qualities that are also central to mathematical thinking. Latin and Greek require careful analysis of grammar, syntax, and meaning, which sharpens critical thinking and enhances attention to detail. Furthermore, studying these languages exposes the mind to different modes of reflection, helping to cultivate a more flexible way of thinking. It encourages the ability to approach problems from various angles, fostering creativity and abstract reasoning—skills that are directly transferable to solving complex mathematical problems. In essence, the discipline of learning classical languages expands one's intellectual toolkit, providing a broader foundation for analytical thinking and problem-solving.