Cheyenne in the spotlight

Everything all at once

“I was born and raised in Rotterdam, so the choice for the Erasmus University was an easy one. After studying Psychology for a year, I decided to switch to Law. In high school, I spent a lot of time debating, and my friends used to tell me that I should study Law and become a lawyer or a politician. After starting my bachelor’s in psychology, I realised that this study did not suit me, as it did not offer the challenge I needed. That is why I decided to follow my friends’ advice and gut feeling after all and switch to Law.

In my first year of Law, I wanted to focus on the courses solely. Everyone who knows me a little knows I am not one for sitting still, and I prefer to do a thousand things at once. Accordingly, in the summer of my second year, I started with several side activities; I became a volunteer at the law clinic, became a member of the study association, immediately joined one of the committees, and a job on the side could not hurt either. I am not one of an easing-in period; thus, I went from zero to one hundred in just six weeks. If I set my mind to something, nothing will slow me down and not even an ankle surgery. Three days after my surgery, I went back to my office on the 8th floor. It did get a little complicated as we had a fire drill just one day later, as we were not allowed to use the elevator during this drill. The “caterpillar” for the stairs was not working, so my manager and I had to use the elevator anyway. I also switched from studying full-time to part-time to avoid any study delay. Looking back on this period of my life, I am pretty proud of all the things I did, but at the time, being so busy seemed self-explanatory.”

Looking for kangaroos

“One of the reasons for all these extra activities was my dream to study abroad, specifically at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. There is always a selection process to study there, so I tried optimising my chances by doing many things during my studies. Eventually, I was accepted, and not much later, I hopped on a plane to the other side of the world. My experience abroad was indescribable and exceeded my expectations. For me, the culture and country stand out. It is extraordinary to be able to get on a train that takes you to a field with 30 wild kangaroos in under two hours.

The courses at UNSW were exciting. I will never forget one of the lecturers; he gave a so-called intensive course. When a teacher manages to keep an entire class engaged for eight hours straight on a Sunday, that teacher is genuinely exceptional. An exchange is a true enrichment of your study time and life, but I admit that being so far away from home is not without its challenges. Casually calling home was not possible because of the significant time difference. At UNSW, I lived with four other students, so we always supported each other and knowing you are not the only one who is homesick can be a consolation. Most of the exchange students have to deal with this one way or another, so I believe it should not be a taboo to talk about this.”

A so-called child of the School

“In the summer of my second year studying Law, I started looking for a part-time job. Whilst searching, I came across a job offer at the Erasmus School of Law Alumni Call Campaign. A six-week project with higher pay than my previous job, so I decided to apply. Applying for that job turned out to kickstart the rest of my career. During the fundraising campaign, I stood out to the project leaders because of my large donations, and after the project had finished, they asked me whether I would like to continue working at the School. That is how I became the first student assistant for the MyFuture programme and how my career at Erasmus School of Law took off.

After a year at the MyFuture program, I went on exchange, but afterwards, I continued working at the Development department (now Communication, Marketing & Relations). From that moment, it has been quite a rollercoaster because I’ve had many different positions. Once again, I was a student assistant. Later, I became the project leader of MyFuture, alumni liaison, communications officer, and currently, I am the coordinator of the Department of Communication, Marketing & Relations. Because of this variety of roles and tasks, I am regularly asked for help or give advice about my previous activities, and it is not always easy to say ‘no’ to that. I am a ‘child of the School’, but I can sometimes long for a fresh start and a new first impression.”

Communication is about connecting people

“Proper communication is of great importance in every organisation, certainly within an educational institution. It stimulates effective and efficient cooperation, clarifies responsibilities and goals, and gets everyone on the same page. Communication is about connecting people and providing a sense of involvement. That is what makes the art of communication so beautiful, and it is something I strive for every day. Especially in times like these, when our colleagues and students naturally feel less connected amongst each other. I aim to improve that during my time at Erasmus School of Law.”

Being more in the present

“Ever since I was a child, I have kept my eyes on the future, and I sometimes even forgot to live in the moment. I tend to continuously think about my next move, what is to come and how to deal with that. If I am honest, that can be pretty tiring and sometimes prevents me from truly living in the present. Luckily, I became more aware of that, so I got better at letting things be and living in the moment. In some ways, I wished that I did things differently during my study time to enjoy it all truly; instead, I worked hard to build my resumé. You only are a student once, so that is something I try to convey to the current students: live in the moment because the present does not come back.”

My mother is the strongest person I know

“I am not one to idolise people. Particular events or people in my life contribute to the person I want to be, but I do not think you should hold onto role models too much. Taking advice or looking up to someone’s specific characteristics is fine, but in my opinion, we are all individuals with our own story.

I might not have a role model, but I am very close to my mother. In my opinion, she is the strongest woman on earth. I have a deep respect for her and how she raised three kids and provided them with a warm and safe home, despite the challenges thrown at her. I am grateful for that, and I should tell her that more often. I was the youngest child, so in the end, I was aware of a lot of the challenges, but we faced them together. It might sound strange, but in hindsight, I would not have wanted it any other way. Partly because of this, I am incredibly close with my mother, and it taught me what is truly important in life.”