School always went well for me. After getting my VWO diploma, I started studying public administration. First, I completed my bachelor’s in three years, and now I’m in the final part of my master’s. The reason I chose public administration is that I wanted to bring change to social issues like poverty, racism, and inequality. I thought a leadership role would be the best way to do that.

To be honest, during my studies, I’ve learned that as an individual, you’re just a small cog in a big system, and bringing about real change is actually pretty difficult on your own. Still, I really enjoy my studies and the field I’m in, and I hope to continue with it in the future.

Basketball Gives Me Peace, Confidence & Taught Me to Take Initiative

Basketball didn’t really come into my life until later. When I was 18, a friend of mine—who I used to go to the gym with—wanted to start playing basketball at the outdoor courts. At first, I wasn’t feeling it. Mostly because he’s way taller than me, so I figured it wouldn’t be a fair match. But after a while, I gave in, and we decided to give it a shot.

When we played, I saw all these other guys pulling off crazy moves, tricks, and techniques that I thought were dope. I wanted to learn them too.

I got into 3X3 Unites because we regularly joined the open basketball nights organized by a youth worker in Nijmegen. One time, Kasper Averink came by to talk about the 3X3 Leader Course that was starting soon, and that’s how I got involved.Basketball has been a huge addition to my life, and 3X3 fits me perfectly. You organize everything yourself—not just when you play, but how you play. That freedom really speaks to me.

Basketball is actually the only place where I truly feel at peace—where my mind finally stops racing, and I’m not thinking about anything else. That means a lot to me because my thoughts are always going non-stop. The game has also given me more confidence and taught me to take more initiative. At first, just within my team, but now I also organize bigger basketball tournaments in Nijmegen a few times a year.

The cool thing about these tournaments is that they put our local court on the map. So many people play here, and now, thanks to these events, the city has actually agreed to renovate it.

I Want to Support Basketball in a governing Role

This was the first time my studies and basketball really came together. In school, we learned that you can bring about change by starting initiatives that put your goals on the political agenda. People had been trying to get this court fixed for years, but by organizing tournaments, inviting city officials, and sending out press releases, we finally got an actual commitment from the city.

When I think about my future, I see myself in a role like that—helping basketball grow from a leadership position. The sport has gained so much popularity lately, but there are still so many places where the facilities could be better. I don’t know exactly where or how yet, but I’d love to take on a role where I can help expand basketball and make it even more accessible in this country.