Onderwijscolumn Six years a slave

YR2

Onderwijscolumn

Greetings from your Year Representation 2

Well, actually more like ‘Quarantine Representation’ right now. We would like to take this opportunity to tell you what is going on with us in the current situation and how we are working as a committee. Whilst we are social distancing like everyone else, we are keeping ourselves busy with virtual meetings and discussions all around the corona crisis. All of us really miss meeting in person and chatting with you on campus. We are of course still forwarding all of your concerns and remarks and giving feedback on all educational operations. We’ve also been very busy thinking about future activities, brainstorming on how to improve educational activities and how to make the best out of these uncertain times.

We’ve all had to make a lot of adjustments lately - webinars instead of seminars, finding ways to keep our motivation to study at home - and as your YR we want to make this transition as easy as possible for everyone. The newly formed CovidCie is managing everything (apart from toilet paper). Do you have questions about anything related to the programme? Send them to any of us and CovidCie will pass it on in their regular meetings with the coordinators. As capable as the CovidCie is, the hardest part of their job might be trying to look presentable in those meetings in this time of sweatpants and pajamas! We’re also keeping up to date with the WhatsApp groups, so we stay aware of the questions you all have.

Aside from the basic programme we are also looking into co-curricular issues such as Dutch for the Masters programme. We want to make sure everyone can still have access to language education and exams in time!

Our chair Asal has been busy distributing gifts to doctors, our skating secretary Anniek got new roller blades, and the treasurer Femke is turning into a marathon-running barber. The head of the SemCie, Koen, is sanding and painting anything from windows to sheds, Anouk has started her career as Chef, Till as Gardener, and Dominique is enjoying the great outdoors. ExamCie is currently only worrying about the question of when we will return to Uni. We can’t wait to taste Madeline’s sourdough bread, and to hear Lotte’s choir concert after we reunite. CommCie remains creative with Jules knitting away at record pace and Ulf doing new projects every day. With our regular video meetings, we’re keeping spirits up and making sure everyone in the committee and our plants are doing okay. Although we can’t hang out with each other and all of you at the moment, we’re still around and active in making sure the programme runs as smoothly as possible.

Besides, some of our committee - just like a few other committees - are keeping busy with the Panacea quarantine 88 challenge. We perform as many challenges as possible and make the most out of it. We meet online to do the crazy stuff they tell us to do and sometimes we meet to work on the challenges together - of course only 3 people at a time, 1,5m apart! In the online sessions it is just as if we are in the same room and it is a whole lot of fun: dance battles, rietadtjes, doing some horrible push-ups and so on. Even the awkward assignments are done with pride and enthusiasm: Ulf laughing out of a window and apologizing to the window for the most awkward 2 minutes of his life, Anniek pretending to be high and placing a sticker on her head, Femke flirting with her stuffed animal, and lonely Koen hiding Easter eggs for himself. So, thanks to Panacea for this fun event and for watching our submissions, which certainly could be disturbing to say the least.

Overall, we are trying to cope as well as we can both with academic matters and co-curricular activities, and are looking forward to not only seeing each other, but also seeing and talking to all of you again as soon as possible. Until then please stay happy and healthy!

Feel free to shoot any of us a message with any questions, concerns, or if you just want to chat.