The life of

Davy

Introduction

I created this virtual autobiography as a way to stand out and express myself.

I want to show that I welcome change and embrace innovation.

This book is part of a larger project I'm developing. My goal is to provide an interactive way for you to get to know me.

It offers a glimpse into my life, sharing childhood memories and the experiences that have shaped who I am today.

My hope is that by the time you finish this book, you have a good idea of who I am as a person.

As you explore these pages, you'll come across images that you can click to view in more detail.

Here's a sample image, go ahead and give it a try!

You can click the red bookmark on the left anytime to return to the contents page.

To close the book, press the cross in the top right corner.

For the best experience, keep your volume on. You can also mute it from the menu in the top left.

On mobile, I like turning my device sideways (yes, I spent way too long making it responsive).

I'd love to hear your feedback, my contact details are at the end of the book.

Enjoy! 😄

Chapter 1:

Early life

As a child, I was always quite creative. I think that was partly because I didn't grow up with video games, so I had to find other ways to entertain myself.

Sometimes, you'd find me playing pretend in the backyard or playing hide and seek with my dog.

But most often, I was creating: drawing, painting, or building.

Chapter 2:

Education

Like many kids, I didn't enjoy school when I was younger.

I hated sitting still and waiting around. I wanted to move, try things, and actually do stuff.

This is what drove me towards STEM, which ultimately guided me into Computer Science.

You see, I've always been really interested in technology.

From exploring the ancient hardware at my grandparents'...

The backside of a black-colored floppy disk

...to writing (harmless) Powershell scripts to impress my friends.

College

In September 2021, I began studying Applied Computer Science at UC Leuven-Limburg.

The first year was tough. COVID was still affecting the world, and I struggled to adapt to this new style of learning.

Fortunately, by the end of that year, COVID had mostly subsided. And although the damage had already been done, a new opportunity emerged.

Our school embraces innovation, and so they revamped the entire curriculum.

They changed the courses, the timetables, and even the name of the degree.

As a result, I essentially started over the following year in a completely restructured program.

Over the next three years, I learned a lot and passed all my classes with strong results.

I officially graduated cum laude in June 2025.

A picture of me about to throw my academic cap into the air.

A picture of me throwing my academic cap into the air.

A picture of my second oldest sister and me.

(Despite three years of learning, I never learned how to wear a cap properly it seems)

A picture of my father and me at my graduation.

I'm grateful that I was able to celebrate this major achievement in my life, with the people I love most.

University

Currently, I'm pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science at the University of Hasselt.

After successfully completing my bridge year, I was allowed entrance into the Master's degree.

The reason for doing this, as opposed to working, is because during my first degree I discovered my interest in Artificial Intelligence.

Wanting to deepen my understanding and strengthen my expertise in the field, I believed this would yield better results than work experience.

Chapter 3:

Work experience

Internship

I wasn't sure whether to include this under education or work experience, as it was truly a combination of both.

Completing my internship at Deloitte is an accomplishment I'm genuinely proud of.

It was a unique opportunity to contribute to a world-class company, all while being guided and mentored by some truly amazing professionals.

I was tasked with creating a chatbot for the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH).

I was able to apply my knowledge of software engineering and artificial intelligence, while still learning and researching more about the latter.

It was both challenging and interesting at the same time, making it a really meaningful internship.

And I can't thank my colleagues enough for making my time there that much more enjoyable.

Thanks again, you guys!

Vliruos

During my studies I also worked at various places, my favorite being at VLIR-UOS.

My role is mainly administrative work, but with the freedom to approach it in my own way.

For me, that means plenty of scripting (Python, PowerShell, bash, ...) and a healthy dose of optimization.

Radarwerk

Another student job I have involves helping out at events. Introducing: Radarwerk.

They provide teams of students to help at events, from assembling and disassembling stages to laying floors, serving drinks and managing crowds.

Because their work is varied and flexible, I could pick shifts that fit my schedule, both during the academic year and over the summer.

Chapter 4:

Projects

IoT plant watering system

Throughout school, I've completed multiple projects.

The first major one was an IoT-based watering system for plants.

The MVP allowed users to water their plants remotely while away from home. However, we took it much further.

Users could upload a photo of their plant, and our system would query an API to identify its species, determine optimal watering frequency, and calculate the precise amount of water needed.

We integrated an auto-watering feature that activated whenever soil humidity dropped below a critical threshold.

We even added a card reader, allowing users to quickly scan their card to dispense water without opening the platform.

With time to spare, we built a 3D game where players could walk around and water their virtual plants which, in turn, watered the real ones.

For extra immersion, users could upload a 3D scan of their plant.

We first tested the feature by scanning one of our teammates, and later used a 3D scan of our lecturer for the live demonstration.

This was, without a doubt, the most exciting and enjoyable project I worked on in school. It perfectly blended creativity, technology, and teamwork. This made every step of the process genuinely fun.

Bachelor's Project

For my bachelor's project, my friends and I had the opportunity to collaborate with Belgium's largest and most prestigious university: KU Leuven.

Their digitisation department required a tool to perform prechecks on scanned documents, automatically identifying recurring errors.

Working in a team of four, we developed a system that leveraged Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to streamline this process.

As Product Owner, I applied many lessons from previous projects, taking a proactive approach and maintaining regular communication with the client.

Building trust in our expertise was a priority, even amid uncertainties, which was reflected in their positive feedback.

A LinkedIn post they shared about our work.

Dating app

Outside of school, I also actively seek opportunities to gain practical experience.

One of my most significant achievements was independently developing a dating app from scratch.

The idea came when several sororities at the University of Antwerp wanted to host a Tinder-inspired party.

My girlfriend, who was part of the management of one of those sororities, suggested I take on the challenge.

Over the following months, I dedicated myself to creating what would become the largest and most ambitious project of my life so far.

I do have pictures, but fair warning, this was before I cared about proper design.

Thank you for reading!

I hope you enjoyed it and got to know me a little better.

This is just the beginning, and I believe the best chapters are still to come.

Let's see where the story leads.

Credits to Creator Assets for the audio files.

The Life of Davy

A brief history of my life, from childhood memories to the projects that shaped my path.

Davy Bellens