{"id":85353,"date":"2018-03-20T12:22:27","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T11:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=85353"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:58","slug":"de-pushfactor-om-niet-thuis-te-blijven-wonen-ontbreekt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/03\/20\/de-pushfactor-om-niet-thuis-te-blijven-wonen-ontbreekt\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018There isn\u2019t a push factor to leave home\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Second-year history student Steven (19) sits in a chair reading in the University Library while he waits for me. As we walk to Kralingse Zoom to take the underground to Alexander station, he tells me about why he chose to study history. \u201cA lot of people assume that you can only become a history teacher with a degree in history. The same way they always assume you\u2019re living in student housing.\u201d<\/p>\n

In reality, he\u2019s perfectly willing to teach for a few years once he has completed his studies, so during his minor he plans to obtain his teaching qualification. \u201cEveryone\u2019s had a teacher who made a difference in their life and I would like to be that person for a student.\u201d But this isn\u2019t his ultimate goal. \u201cI don\u2019t think a career in teaching alone would be satisfying enough. I have too much ambition for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Switched from D66 to Forum voor Democratie<\/h2>

Another part of his \u2018life blueprint\u2019 \u2013 \u2018Living aimlessly would be too stressful\u2019 \u2013 is to write a book of poetry or a collection of poems and <\/em>spend some time living and working abroad. You can only really<\/em> get to know a country by living and working there for a time. I feel that would be a valuable experience.\u201d His interest in people is also apparent in his desire to be politically active, something he aspired to since he was eleven. \u201cWhen I was still a member of D66, I handed out flyers at the market. You strike up conversations with all kinds of people that you normally wouldn\u2019t speak to. That\u2019s something I enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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These days, he has turned his back on D66 and joined up with the Forum voor Democratie. He frequently bursts into passionate arguments on legalising hard drugs, the referendum and trade interests with Russia. Steven confirms that he has a propensity for delivering speeches. \u201cI always have something to say during tutorials. Actually, that\u2019s true in any situation, it\u2019s a family trait. Both my grandmother and my father have it as well. My girlfriend is a bit more reserved and when things get quiet she always jokes, \u2018let\u2019s hear from you for once.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018She said I had all the subtlety of a hand grenade\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Good impression<\/h2>

She is actually the biggest reason that he\u2019s still living at home. \u201cI don\u2019t want a weekend relationship. She also lives in Zeist and we met each other when we were both leaving the local cafe De Schavuit<\/em>. I cycled alongside her and tried to make a good impression and when she spoke about it later, she said I had all the subtlety of a hand grenade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from his relationship, Steven isn\u2019t looking forward to living in student housing anyway. \u201cI like convenience and comfort, so in reality I would end up paying just to give up a lot of luxuries. I already went through my adolescent phase between the age of fourteen and sixteen, so now there isn\u2019t a push factor to leave home.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the Zeist city limits, we exit the bus. By way of parting, we\u2019ve had a lively discussion about whether Thierry Baudet is a fascist or not. Steven is still chattering away as he gets on his bike and cycles in the direction of his parental home.<\/p>\n

*The last name has been removed due to privacy reasons, but is known to the editors<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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