I did well at school. I made a good staat with the Mavo.

Then I went to school in Turkey for 4 years. After that I completed my MBO back in the Netherlands.

 

I was going to study at the HBO but my performance anxiety kicked in. I took a step back.

I thought: "Slow and steady will win the race".

I didn't follow my father's advice. I regretted that very much in the years ahead.

 

I thought that I had all the time in the world to do what I wanted to do.

Completed the MBO with good grades. Recieved a good recommendation from a promising apprenticeship. 

Which ensured that I quickly found a job.

This was meant to be a holiday job, but at the end of the period I was offered a permanent job.

 

In my heart I wanted to accept the job, but my life had taken a different turn.

In the summer of 1997 I married and moved to Turkey.

 

After being married for 21 years, I got a divorce and moved back to the Netherlands.

While I  was married I put the life I was used to 'on hold'. 

I lived a completely different life. Once again forgetting my parents' advice.

 

'Stand tall and do what you want to do', they told me. Why do I always forget that....