High school (VWO) was a challenging time for me, filled with constant stress as I tried to balance my schoolwork, social life, and budding career as an artist. It often felt like the school system didn’t suit me at all. On top of that, I struggled with attending classes and staying focused. Homework was always a problem, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Even though I easily passed my exams and achieved good grades, I was constantly criticized for unfinished assignments. It felt unfair, as my results showed I was capable, but the rigid expectations made it hard for me to thrive. I believe schools could do much better in recognizing that not doing homework or skipping some lessons doesn’t mean someone is lazy; sometimes, it’s just physically or mentally too difficult.

What made it even harder was that all I really wanted during those years was to develop myself as an artist. I already knew, by the age of 14 or 15, that art was what I wanted to do with my life. School, however, took up so much of my time that I felt trapped, unable to focus on my true passion. It was suffocating, and I even considered switching to HAVO just to make things easier. At times, it felt like the school system was holding me back instead of helping me move forward.

Despite all the struggles, I managed to get through it. Looking back now, I’m proud that I didn’t give up. I even created a short video to capture how that period felt. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s something I enjoy watching because it reminds me of how far I’ve come. Even though those years were tough, I’m glad I made it through, and I’m grateful for the lessons I learned along the way.