“It’s going well; it’s fun, but also very busy, and I’m quite tired.” Even so, Noortje van Maldegem radiates positivity from behind her computer screen. The 19-year-old couldn’t make time in her packed schedule for an in-person interview; Observant spoke with her digitally instead. “My faculty [FSE] has introduced a shorter academic year this year. We get longer holidays, but the course periods are a week shorter. I have to juggle classes and projects at the same time. It’s super hectic. But I’m convinced this is the right programme for me.”
Observant first spoke to Van Maldegem during INKOM in late August. She stood out with her white cane as she made her way through Stadspark. Van Maldegem has 20 per cent vision due to a brain tumour located at the junction of her optic nerves. Regular chemotherapy helps keep the tumour under control. “That’s still the case”, she says. “My health is stable, and we’re even experimenting with reducing the treatments. I now have chemotherapy once every five weeks instead of four. It’s very encouraging, but also a bit nerve-racking.”
Noortje van Maldegem at the INKOM, late august
Alone
To minimise her risk of falling ill – viruses are more common in winter – she often attends lectures alone in an interpreter booth specially adapted for her by the university. “It’s incredible. There are two large screens, and I even have a microphone to ask questions. It’s the safest way for me to attend classes.”
This isn’t to say that she always attends classes that way, alone. “The booth isn’t in my own faculty building. During tutorial group meetings, I wear a face mask, and if I sit next to someone, I always ask if they’re experiencing any symptoms of viral illness. All in all, I think I’ve missed fewer classes than the average student”, she laughs.
Her studies are going well so far, and she has passed all her exams. “The faculty gives us a lot of freedom, but sometimes it feels like too much. They’ll say things like, ‘We know the assignment is a bit vague, but we’re confident you can handle it.’ It can be quite tough at times.”
Adapting
She has no regrets about her choice of programme. “I really enjoy the courses and the programming. At first, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and I’d briefly considered studying Computer Science instead, so I was a little nervous at the start.” Her worries turned out to be unfounded. “Some of my fellow students haven’t passed a single exam yet, and the pass rate for the first period is quite low in general. I’m a perfectionist and want to do everything well, but I’ve learnt to let go of that a bit. Over the next few months, I hope to adapt even more to the fluctuating schedules and the pressure. I want to continue to find my footing.”
And what about student life? Is she having a good time? “Socially, a whole new world has opened up for me. During secondary school, I spent a long time in quarantine because of Covid. Coming to UM has been a fresh new start for me. I’ve met so many people and made a lot of friends. It’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me.”