Dogs or cats? Dogs, without question. I grew up with our dog Socke, an Australian Shepherd. I can’t remember a time without him. He passed away last year at the age of seventeen. I’ve never been much of a cat person – they’re too self-willed for me. They jump onto your bed, curl up and then get cross when you get under the covers yourself. Dogs are much friendlier.
My roots are in… Germany, but Namibia feels like my second home. I first went there when I was eight, in 2013, when my sister – who’s ten years older than me – was volunteering in a children’s shelter. When she was due to return home, my parents set up an NGO from Germany, a non-profit organisation supporting education projects and food programmes for children in Namibia. I go back every year; I even lived there for a few months, teaching ten- and eleven-year-olds. I always feel at ease there. It’s where I find inner peace and know all the special spots. My sister never left, by the way; she married a Namibian man, and they have a son, my wonderful nephew Lio.
"I never stop thinking. I’d like to switch off sometimes"
Maastricht was a deliberate choice for me. Despite my love for Namibia, I didn’t want to go to university there. Not just because of its poor education system, but also because the country is a refuge for me – a place where I go to unwind, not to study. I briefly considered South Africa, but my father insisted I take a look at Maastricht. He studied here for a short while as an exchange student, and he still loves the city. So do I.
Being twenty isn’t easy. You have to learn to deal with society’s expectations – the assumption that, after secondary school, you’ll go straight to university. But the truth is that everyone moves at their own pace. I took two gap years myself. When you’re twenty, you’re still allowed to learn and make mistakes. It’s fine to fall out of step or end up on a different path; you can always find your way back. That becomes harder as you get older, although there are plenty of people in their thirties who still have no idea where they’re headed. They just have more money. [laughs] My parents gave me a lot of freedom. They’ve always told me I have plenty of potential and encouraged me to go out there and figure out what I wanted.
"At twenty, you have to learn to deal with society’s expectations"
What makes you angry? There are so many people, including politicians, who just say whatever comes to mind without thinking. They just blurt out things, for example about migrants and the negative impact they supposedly have on society. It’s like they don’t realise the impact their words can have. I find that really problematic.
What would you change about yourself? I never stop thinking. I’d like to switch off sometimes. I always want to keep everyone happy and worry about everything: my family, my friends, their problems, which I then try to solve. It’s annoying and sometimes exhausting.
I’m afraid of… spiders, but they aren’t my biggest fear. I’m afraid of missing out – not on parties or other social events, but life in general. I want to make the most of it, not just sit passively on the sidelines. When I was sixteen, I became depressed. I could no longer enjoy life the way I wanted to. I was a cheerful child; my father used to say I lit up the room when I walked in. I danced my way through life. But the last years of secondary school were tough. I did so many things I didn’t want to do, trying to fit into the ideal of the hard-working pupil. I put a lot of pressure on myself and came close to quitting school just before my final exams. My parents would have supported me either way – they just wanted me to be happy again. In the end I sat the exams, and after two years I started to feel better, thanks in part to my time in Namibia. It was there, free from outside pressure, that I found myself again.
"Failure isn’t a bad thing; it’s part of the journey"
What’s the most attractive quality in a partner? I don’t think I could pick just one. It’s about a mix of important qualities: trust, support, empathy. And a good partner definitely isn’t selfish. I don’t take anything for granted – life is too short to settle for less.
Would you rather be rich or famous? Rich. If you have money, you can change things and help people who need it. When I was younger, I wanted to be an actress, but the older I got, the more I realised how nice it is not to live in the spotlight. If you’re famous, people are always judging you. With money, you can do good while staying under the radar.
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? Nothing. Failure isn’t a bad thing; it’s part of the journey. My grandparents always told me that what matters most is doing your best. That’s what counts, not the outcome. But if I had to answer this question, perhaps I’d become the actress I once dreamt of being.