Johannesburg - The story of Dr Francois Schulz is one of pure excellence.
On Tuesday, at the age of 25, he received his fourth degree, a PhD in applied maths, making him the youngest graduate from the University of Johannesburg with such an accolade.
His journey to get there meant that Schulz had to first acquire a BSc, followed by honours and then a master's degrees in pure maths.
“I just love maths. The more I practise, the more my passion grows,” he said, speaking to The Star minutes before walking into the graduation venue on Tuesday night.
Schulz is modest about his achievement.
“Anyone can achieve this. It's not a miracle. You just have to focus and practise all the time. Once you get it, you just can’t stop.”
As much as he found his doctoral studies challenging, it was also enjoyable, he said.
“The doctoral study in mathematics consisted of a thesis in which I had to extend the knowledge base of a particular branch of mathematics by either building upon known results or by developing a completely new and original mathematical theory.
“In particular, my research was in a branch of mathematics called functional analysis, and I contributed by developing a structure theory of socles in semisimple Banach algebras by using rank and trace.”
Schulz believes it's important for aspiring mathematicians to have a good foundation from as early as primary school.
“You have to understand the basics first, and all will fall into place.
“But you have to put in the hard work. Put in the hours.”
Having scored 100 percent in maths in matric, Schulz knew exactly where his path was leading him.
“I discovered my love for numbers at a very early age, and, after matriculating with 100 percent for mathematics, I quickly set my sights on a degree in mathematical sciences,” he said.
“After a few years, my passion for solving mathematical problems intensified, and as my mathematical abilities developed, I kept seeking more and more sophisticated stimulation and challenges.”
While Schulz had dreamt of pursuing a career in astronomy, that was not to be because he found he far preferred the idea of teaching maths.
He is a maths lecturer at UJ.
“I just love teaching maths; it is something that comes naturally to me.
“I could do other things but I feel I can make a meaningful contribution in teaching.”
The Star