Children’s dreams and ambitions

As a child I used to dream of becoming president. Later I realised that family life and a family are much more important to me because I love the people around me. Despite my disability which is cerebral palsy coupled with a brain hemorrage, I kept my big aspirations. I sit in a wheelchair but that didn’t  keep me away from learning, playing with my friends in childhood, following a study and ultimately having a fulfilling job. I think these goals are indispensable in life. I cannot imagine a life without goals because I am just simply not made like that.

Different views on happiness

Whether you are a wheelchair user or can walk on your legs everyone sees happiness differently and tries to achieve its own happiness. For me it means living happily with a wife and a child while I also have some free time to work on my own development for the skills and qualities I don’t possess yet.

Personal willpower and parenting

And it always begins with  one’s own power of the will I think. For instance the openness to learn something new, a language or a craft, a profession.  My parents saw a talent in me for learning so they found one teacher for me to do home schooling because going to school was not possible in Moldova  due to a lack of facilities. Also there was discrimination and a lack of understanding for a person that is a bit different than yourself.  Those are bitter things to experience for a child, but it was even more difficult for my parents, I can only assume.  And still they didn’t give up for me because they are loving parents.

Striving for success in the Netherlands

When I came to the Netherlands I thought that I should make the best of my life. And for that I tried really hard no matter how difficult it sometimes was.  Sometimes my mother and me lived on only 70 Euros for food for a month. Later I did a Master in Public Administration at Leiden University with a specialisation in International and European Governance.  That is how I came in contact with the student counsellor from Leiden University. He told me that there was a possibility to apply for a grant with the Groesbeek-Assenbroek foundation. This was the first time I heard about the foundation. Finally when I got the grant I was extremely happy and relieved because it meant not worrying about what we are going to put on the table today or pay for my study. It gives so much  headspace to think about other things in life and enjoy it.

Meaningful visit to the Nardinclant estate

Last year it was a privilege to be part of the group that went to the Nardinclant real estate. That is the house where Klaas Groesbeek  and his wife Anna Assenbroek spent most of their years  together. We heard the story of Klaas and his family and rise from the people closely involved in taking care of the estate. Moreover our visit resulted in the beautiful idea to create an alumni group of people who received help and organise activities for the alumni. It was a nice initiative and I decided to get actively involved to make the group  grow”.