Life Update: I got my Master of Science!

This past February I started my thesis. I was very nervous about it, because when I wrote my thesis for my bachelor Facility Management I failed the first attempt. This time it went very smooth, a little too smooth sometimes, because that’s what I experienced during my bachelor too. So I got worried. But on July 13th 2022 I got the news that I passed my thesis. And so I have a major life update: I got my master of science!

Master of Sciences

It felt very surreal at that moment, and it still feels surreal. A master of science! When I got my HAVO-diploma, I could not go to the university. You need a VWO-diploma to go to the university in the Netherlands. And so I went to the University of Applied Sciences at age 16 instead. I was very excited about that, as it felt like that was the righth level for me. But when I graduated my bachelor of science in Facility Management at age 20, I felt like I wasn’t done at all.

Facility Management is great, but during the 4 years that I studied that, my interest for sustainability kept growing. I wanted to pursue a career in sustainability, because I felt and feel like this is most important at this moment. Also, I felt and feel like sustainability is just madly interesting. During the pre-master and master this was confirmed, because I got higher grades than I ever did. I even enjoyed doing the extra non-mandatory readings. This was my place.

And eventually I did it! I passed all courses and so in September I will receive my diploma. Consequently, I have a master of science, in Environment and Resource Management. I am extremely grateful for this. Especially to my parents, who have paid for all my education and have always supported me.

Responsibility

I am very privileged. With this diploma, I belong to the 11% of highest educated people in the Netherlands in the age group 15-75. I am a white abled woman with parents who were born in this country too. And so I have a massive responsibility. I feel like responsibility comes with privilege. It’s time to change the world for the better. I feel like it’s my duty and I owe it to society.

End of an Era

This is an end of a big part of my life. In The Netherlands you start school at age 4, and since I was born in September, I started at age 3. I am now 23. So, the past 20 years I have spent going to school. Side note: I did take one year off because of COVID-19. I spend almost all my life in school, so it’s so weird that it now comes to an end. I don’t know much else. Yes, I have had many jobs, but never longer than a year full-time or six years part-time work. This life update, me getting a master of science, is the end of an era.

Endless Possibilities

This is such a scary point in life because from here on I can go anywhere. I can choose to do the obvious thing, to go work full-time and try to buy a house. That’s what most people do. But there are so many other options, which is terrifying. I could go traveling and make money on my way. I could emigrate. Becoming an activist is an option too. Choosing to focus on my blog and Youtube channel only, as some people do. I could write a book. I could even have a job in a totally different industry. Jeez, this point in life is overwhelming. It feels like the rest of my life is starting.

The Plan

Yes, the options are endless. But I have thought about this already, a lot. A few years ago, I even wrote a letter to my future self. For now this is sort of the plan: I am staying in Amsterdam. I have to see for how long I can stay at Uilenstede, the student flat where I live. My goal is to stay in Amsterdam for a little while since I fell in love with the city. When I have to leave Amsterdam, I might even babysit houses to stay a while longer (for free). I would like to find a job in sustainability, where I make a real impact. For a maximum of 4 days a week, since I have a lot of other hobbies for which I want to make time.

I do not know exactly what this job will look like. I am very much interested in urban green, but I find all aspects of sustainability interesting. For now my dream job would be either at a municipality or at a small company, where I can write and execute the entire sustainability program. The most important criteria I have right now is that I want to have fun. This is the only life I have and who knows how long I still have. I want to enjoy the ride.

Hobbies

About those other hobbies. I would like to volunteer at an animal shelter as well. Animals make me so inherently happy, I have to do something with that. I also would like to become a foster for cats in the coming years, but I have to figure out how to do that. I also want to continue writing this blog and making Youtube-videos since I absolutely love doing that. And not to forget making time for friends and family and to keep pursuing an eco-positive lifestyle.

Future

I would like to save some money for future plans too, while at the same time raising the money I donate to charities. For now, the plan is to keep living in the city (whichever one that might be) for the coming years, but afterwards I would like to move to the countryside to buy a piece of land and start an animal sanctuary (while I hopefully keep my job). That’s why I am also very much interested in living in anti-cracking housing and babysitting houses, to save money for the future.

I would also like to keep learning, like I have done the past years. After summer, I am ready to pick up piano classes again. Also, I would like to learn more about wild food foraging, drying foods and pickling. And somehow, I hope to also manage to find a place to grow my own food on a small scale. Ah, and not to forget, I want to keep doing the same amount of exercising, 6 times a week for the rest of my life. Handball and running are both definitely keepers, and hiphop dancing as well.

So, that’s all about my big life update, I got my master of science! I know that it sound like I’ll work myself into a burn-out the coming years. But don’t worry, I’ll be fine. The past years I have learned very well to practice self-care and take time off.

Off to a new chapter of my life!

Yours sincerely,
Romee