Published 1 February 2011
Amazing stories from all over the world
AUC’s diverse programme and its international focus have been the main reasons for me to apply for the academic programme. AUC offered me a wide variety of subjects, and gave me the opportunity to form my own study programme, which fitted to my interests.
I was looking for a university with international relationships that would challenge me in order to get the best out of myself, and the AUC is exactly an example of such a university.
Moreover, being an AUC student implies that you get to meet and interact with international students with different social and cultures backgrounds. This gave me the chance to listen to amazing stories from students who come from all over the world.
Travelling without leaving (my new) home
Oscar Wilde said "I am not young enough to know everything", and indeed I am not. At 24 years of age I am one of the older students in the class of 2013, yet I do not feel for a second too old or too inconsequential to contribute.
AUC's focus on diversity, in people as well as in the programme's curriculum, attracted me instantly; the boundaries are not limitless but they are very grand. Meeting people of different backgrounds and getting exposed to history or foreign languages while majoring in science is a real privilege.
My hopes are that I will become wiser with age, and that I will be able to use that wisdom for the betterment of those surrounding me.
How I met new friends, fields of study and myself
When I started secondary school I was pretty sure that history was my favourite subject, but after a while I also liked classes such as maths and physics. From that moment on I was not sure what my favourite subject was. The only thing I did know for sure, when choosing my profile, was that I preferred the field of science.
When I had to decide which field of studies to pursue, I realised I did not want to study one specific subject in the field of science like physics or chemistry. My dean told me about the possibilities at AUC to study different subjects. This, in combination with the small classes and the in-class participation, made me decide to apply to AUC.
Now I am planning to major in science and focus on maths, chemistry and physics, with extra courses in history, philosophy and biology. By the time I have finished AUC I hope that I know in which of my three main disciplines I would like to do a master.
How burning garbage led me to study at AUC
During my time at the United World College in Costa Rica, I organised a project week in a mountain village of an indigenous community. The municipality did not come to pick up the village’s garbage, and therefore the people burnt it in their backyards.
The headmaster asked us to help with this, but some of my fellow students did not agree because they were concerned about the environmental consequences of burning plastic. However, this did not help with the garbage problem the village faced.
I realised that it is not enough to learn about toxic chemicals and pollution; I also need to learn how to communicate with indigenous people; to know their history; their relations with the municipality and the ways they have been structurally disadvantaged by the government. I realised I needed to learn a variety of skills, not only natural sciences nor only social sciences. This motivated me to apply to AUC.
One of the important reasons why I chose AUC is the effort to help students fit in the community with projects outside the classroom or in-company internships, as well as providing us with a combination of interesting study and social life in the perfect environment of Amsterdam, the world’s most multicultural city.
Also, the fact that AUC students live together in small units on campus make me feel guaranteed of mutual support and assistance. In addition, having friends with various cultural and educational backgrounds gives me an opportunity to see the world through different perspectives and enjoy different cultures.
I am glad that AUC is a place where students can reach out and define themselves while pursuing their degree. Lecturers know my name and there will always be someone to help me to reach my academic goals. Hopefully I will bring Vietnamese traditions and lifestyles to contribute to AUC’s diversity.
From Berlin to Amsterdam - a foray into academia
After I finished high school I could not decide on one field of study or education I wanted to specialise in. I felt that my interests were too broad for any education, and every time I narrowed my choice down and thought about taking study or another, I ended up wanting to take them all.
Because I did not find anything satisfying, I decided to work and travel for a while. I made new friends from all over the world and came into contact with the liberal arts system, because some of those friends were from the USA.
When I first read about the programme and the concept of the university college I thought this must be too good to be true. I could freely combine courses from different fields and design my own programme? I knew that this was my thing! Being able to study many different fields in a small-scale intensive programme was exactly what I'd been looking for!
Source: AUC
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