Jeroen, who has been associated with S.M.I.T. for the past couple of years, is content with its performance during his tenure as president. 'Sports activities, cultural encounters, drink parties, excursions have been regularly hosted by us', Jeroen says while explaining the role played by the group in promoting international integration in the UT. He is also very enthusiastic about 'Talkative', their literary mouthpiece, this month sent to the record number of 376 students, a feat showing its prominence on campus. Says Jeroen, 'The monthly newsletter is a wonderful means of communication with the international community'.
He turns nostalgic as he mentions his metamorphosis as a person while working with the organisation. 'Convincing people is a challenging task', Jeroen mentions as the most significant lesson he learnt during his experience. He further adds, 'Interaction with people from a cross-section of cultures has given me an insight into the complexity of cultural differences'. He admits, 'It is difficult to transform one's vision into reality, given the differences that exist between people'.
Jeroen wants to go to Finland in January to pursue an internship in applied physics and the best part is that he is being guided by some of the Finnish students whom he befriended through the platform of S.M.I.T. A symbiotic relation indeed! As parting advice, he cautions the new president 'never take things for granted but always have consensus, especially while working in a team'. An enriched Jeroen would like to see a possibility for old board members to come together periodically, to exchange views, ideas and experiences. Perhaps the new board members can start an alumni association?
Initiated into S.M.I.T. after being strongly inspired by her internship in Bangalore, India, where she worked for the development of street children, Dorien radiates with confidence, 'I wish to establish the same warmth between the members of the international community here as I encountered during my internship'. Dorien is quite positive about the benefits to her personality through her involvement with S.M.I.T. She earnestly explains, 'I want to gain leadership qualities, improve my English and enhance my communicationskills through interaction with different people'. She looks forward to the strengthening of the bond between Dutch and foreign students.
'Everyone is equal and no one is above the team,' asserts Dorien, putting forth her philosophy as a president. She proposes, 'Everyone in the university can participate in S.M.I.T. and contribute toward its growth'.
The upcoming events to be organised by the newly constituted board are lectures on media manipulation in October and trip to the Floriade. Both Jeroen and Dorien strongly opine, 'The international students will definitely benefit from us if they get actively involved in our activities'.
Vijay Iyer
The new board of S.M.I.T. (in blue shirts) towers over their predecessors: on the highest step from the left Diana Hartsink, Hilko Menke, Dorien Wesseling (the new president), below that from the right Raoul Lucas, Tatiana Nicolaas, Inge van Haare and Rogier Henriquez. In the group on the right the outgoing president Jeroen de Groot (in the back row on the right).
