Make your own year!
In the academic year 2021-2022, Tristan Wennink was the chairman of the 50th board of study association Kraket. 1.5 years later, we asked Tristan what skills he obtained during his board year that he still uses in his present life.
Looking back at board 50!
During the final months of the academic year, our board year became hectic with celebrations, events and Kraketters. So, during summer it was time to relax and look back at the amazing year we had as the 50th board of Kraket. But what is it, you are exactly looking back at. Which experiences or memories do you take with you? Well, let me take you through some lessons learned and lifelong experiences from my board year.
Effort is good, teamwork is better
From the day that you are announced, until the day that you sign-off from your function, you work together in a team. In this (say 1.5 year), you work together (closely) with people on tasks and questions that you would normally not find in a “regular” student year. As mentioned, this starts after the day of your announcement. After this day, a lot needs to be arranged and discussed in a small amount of time. Afterall, you want to be on the same page when the summer meetings or introduction week starts. All this variety of tasks needs to be picked by one of your board members, and be discussed in the board meeting. This is just a small example, a warm-up when you start your boardyear. However, you need to be on full steam during the events to come, especially when a large group of stakeholders is involved.
Planning, planning, planning…
You might be wondering if you could skip this paragraph. Afterall, you are able to get your planning skills up-to-date by, for example, tiktok channels. Well, stay put, and read on. One of the greatest skills that I trained during my board year is event planning. Most of the Kraketters are not aware of the logistic work or people management behind big events, such as company days, event weeks or weekend trips. You might even say that some Kraket events ask for a project manager approach. After a year full of these kinds of events, you think that you see every single detail. But nothing is further from the truth, even in the last events something that you didn’t foresaw could happen.
When I look back on my board year, I’m proud of the quality of the events. Not only by the work from myself or the other board members, but also from the effort of all the committee members. I really enjoyed the almost project management approach of some events. Including the unexpected turns, and sometimes the improvisation following. This feeling is also something that I recognized as an opportunity in my private life. I took this opportunity, and got the same energy as during my board year. Maybe, I would not have recognized this opportunity, if it was not for my board year.
Where does it end…
A board year is no easy job. Something that is not always clear to all Kraketters. It is difficult to keep the balance between hard work and ‘me-time’. I think most board members struggle with this balance, however when found, you know where your limitations lie. I learned the lesson that hard work pays off, but you need to keep an eye on yourself. This is a difficult lesson for most people, I tend to forget it myself.
Make your own year!
A board year is a special year. Do something different, do something you (probably) haven’t done yet or do sometimes even scary or super fun. Then all of these good and bad moments add to a full experience of your year. A board year is for everyone different, so why shouldn’t make it your own. You will meet a lot of new people, make new friends.
