What mistake do you repeat over and over?

“Things take me more time than I anticipated. This means that I have to hurry at the last moment, which leads to stress. Incidentally, I get increasingly better at controlling that stress by focusing on one thing. I’ve learned that nothing happens faster when I’m stressed out. I often get endlessly involved in the things I like and postpone the things I don’t like. For example, I postpone writing a report and go on with my research. But it has to be done eventually. As part of my graduation project I do research on how the city of Den Bosch should deal with monuments if it wants to make the neighborhood ‘t Zand natural gas free. I better start writing that report in time.”

Do you believe in luck, or is everything a choice?

“Interesting question. People are planners or explorers. I’m unquestionably a planner when it comes to short-term goals; I have to be because there are a lot of things I like and that I like to do. When I was a member of surfing association Weth, I never went along on spontaneous trips when the winds were favorable because I had always planned something. I was present at the planned weekends however - we also like to call them ‘weekends without wind.’ When it comes to the long term, I’m an explorer, without a doubt. I’d rather change my course than outline a path beforehand. Happily, I don’t know where I will have ended up ten years from now. I would like to stay in the Eindhoven area because I feel comfortable here, but should my girlfriend Sophie’s urban planning specialization take her to a different place, I’ll follow her. Have I mentioned already how wonderful she is?”

What has the voice in your head been saying lately?

“That it’s about time I finish my studies. I was never lazy, but I’ve been here for quite some time now, since 2010, when I started at Industrial Design. When I wanted to switch to Built Environment it was wise to wait a bit longer until the Bachelor College was properly set up. Someone once gave me the advice to graduate before I got fed up with studying. There’s just enough time.”

What brings out your inner child?

“Music. I can easily lose myself in music. I don’t have to think about the rest of the world, like a child, and I’ll forget everything, my age for instance. I really like parties with people over the age of forty. I grew up in a family where my father constantly listened to classical music, mostly Bach, that’s why I’m not so used to listening to lyrics. That stays with you. I don’t like Hiphop at all. But the rhythm and melody of Supertramp and Madness make me really happy. I went to the concert of Madness and UB40 on Strijp-S last year, it was great.”

What do your friends appreciate about you?

“My unbridled enthusiasm and my role as initiator. I go all out for something. I founded fraternity Adregé when I was at Demos, it’s located partly in the Beaufort residence on Strijp-S. I also designed the logo, the gavel and the fraternity shield. I took that shield to Purmerend once, to a small shop where they were able - within out budget - to cut the wood into the shape of a tornado.”