More about me... some history
 

As a child and during my high school years I was always drawing, painting and crafting. I put the school books underneath my pillow in the hope that the material would fly into my brain during the night. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and it was a good thing that I set the alarm at 5:30 am the morning before a test or even an exam, so that I was still prepared.
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'VWO' became 'HAVO' and there it became clear that my so-called preference for economics was not there. What I enjoyed the most and was able to be myself were the drawing lessons with Mrs. de Groot. She inspired me to be myself and express myself through my work. It was also very nice to experience how the school supported me in applying for admission to the Design Academy in Eindhoven. At the time I was the first student of Mgr. Frencken College who tried that. 
I could hardly believe it, but I was accepted. However, I did not know beforehand what kind of special world I would end up in. I could already think 'out of the box' well at the time, but I was still very insecure and my urge for analysis and designs that 'had to be right' in my view did not entirely correspond with the academy's policy at that time. Three intense years. I also got distracted by other things. I decided to stop because I was becoming increasingly unhappy.

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I would have preferred to travel, but after careful consultation with my parents, I went to the teacher training college in Eindhoven and after my propaedeutic year I was able to teach at school (PDS program) and do my theory through self-training. Ideal for me, that freedom suited me and I was able to complete the course in three instead of four years. I was now graduated as a primary school teacher, but unfortunately there were few or no permanent jobs in education at that time. You can't imagine that now. Through a friend I came to work at a digital printing company and within a week I was placed in another position with a permanent contract. This way I was able to move into my first rental apartment in Eindhoven. 
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The commercial profession suited me and I continued with it. In particular, the contact with different people and companies, the innovation in the graphics industry in combination with sustainability issues continued to arouse my interest. After almost nine years I felt that I was 'standing still', there were no more opportunities for advancement and I changed jobs. A job at an advertising agency, closer to home

(I was now living in Oosterhout again, closer to my family).

I soon felt that I did not fit in either that world or this agency and looked for something else. As if the universe heard me, I was scouted by a digital printing company from Graz, Austria and started working more internationally. An incredibly educational time. During this period I realized I wanted to go to the coast after Eindhoven and Oosterhout. 
​I had been on a surfing trip a few times and always enjoyed the sea and open water. My parents' roots are in The Hague and Voorburg and so I always felt at home here. My grandmother always said 'The Hague is such a nice city because the wind blows the city clean'. Scheveningen and preferably as close to the sea as possible, that became the goal and so it happened. I bought a very nice fisherman's house 300 meters from the sea. Twice as small as my then house in Oosterhout, so that meant cleaning up! Both literally and figuratively ;).
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The first year in Scheveningen was strange. I was very busy with my work, had a boyfriend in Paris and was trying to build a life in Scheveningen. I actually felt very alone, while at the same time Scheveningen felt like a warm bath. Even near the cold North Sea.

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Then something absurd happened; a virus called 'Corona' came. Something new, unknown and the compulsion to stay where you are. Forced to be at home. I fell back into old patterns and my job came under pressure. I set my boundaries and after four months there was a settlement agreement and I ended up on unemployment benefits. Immediately busy with coaching programs and job interviews, but something in me had changed. 
Because I simply didn't know what to do with my life, I first started doing things that I always wanted to do or had not done for a long time. So I went swimming in the sea every day, I started in November and swam through the winter. In December I suddenly picked up pen, paper and bought paint again. I drew an abstract lily and painted it patiently. I think this ended up being a week or two project and it felt so good. I could lose myself for eight hours straight and be happy; my thoughts became calmer.
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I also realized and felt at that time that there was still a lot of unresolved sadness in me from a traumatic experience. A friend recommended a coach from his network and I went for it.

These were intensive months of sadness and joy and I worked hard to embrace myself and my talent. I also bought 'Jack' in the spring of 2021; a Ford Tourneo. I converted this into a mini camper together with my father. That same summer I took a solo trip through Spain. I was on the road for almost two months, with more than 5,000 km on the odometer. Destination unknown, but as close to the coast as possible! Often alone, but sometimes in the company of friends or family who were also on the road. An adventure that I will never forget. ​
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When I am writing this, it's about three years later. It was a struggle to find the right match in work with my new way of life. In addition to my work as an artist, I currently work four days a week as a Partnership Manager for LessonUp.

On LinkedIn you can see which previous roles I have had. 
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