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local Thursday 7 March 2019

Choose what you Love to Study

MAASTRICHT — Culture and creativity starts at a young age and Why did you choose to study what Arubans are used to, but also
evolves significantly as we become adults. Today we are going to you are studying? tragic plays that brings up a cer-
focus a bit more on the role of education in creating a more cul- When Daylan was in high school at tain emotion to the public. Also,
tural aware and creative society. Over the past months we discussed Colegio Arubano, like all enrolled politically engaged plays that em-
both socio-economic and cultural developments and their benefits students he had the opportunity to phasizes a problem or topic in the
regarding a Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI) implementation on get art classes in the curriculum. It society, through which perhaps
the island. Education was an important element in the overall frame- is there where he started to like the you can achieve a new perspec-
work because it provides the means to shape our community and in- subject of “drama” and to his sur- tive on while forming your opinion
spire them to appreciate culture and to develop the ability to express prise he was good at it too. “Due with diligence. “Of course it’s not
creativity in all spectrums of their lives. Following our special series to my interest in the subject my always smooth sailing when doing
called the Creative Islander “Artist Edition”, where for the upcoming mother came across some local a study in the arts here in The Neth-
months the Creative Islander will feature students, young profession- theatre directors on the island who erlands. On one side, they pushed
als and/or creative workers whom are active in the Cultural and Cre- needed actors for their play. It is me during my study to think further
ative scene in Aruba and/or abroad. Today we will learn more about there where my love for theatre than the usual convictions of soci-
Daylan Krozendijk, who is a senior theatre student at Hogeschool voor began, but I had always seen it as ety and they pushed my cultural
de Kunsten Utrecht (HKU). “Choose a study that you really love and a hobby, never thought of mak- boundaries of what is allowed and
you will never feel like you have to learn, but that you want to learn.” ing a career out of it”. Daylan had what goes too far. A very simple
been wrestling with his academic example of this, is how we see
choice at this point and it wasn’t nudity on Aruba. You will almost
until he studied something that he never find nudity in theatres, plays
didn’t care for and until he began or performances on Aruba”. Thus,
working on Aruba that he real- studying art in The Netherlands has
ized how important it is to choose allowed Daylan to develop other
something that makes you happy ideologies and has exposed him
and that you truly enjoy as a ca- to difference.
reer choice. “Choose a study that
you really love and you will never Do you feel that you personally
feel like you have to learn, but that developed your creative skills and
you want to learn”. And that’s ex- cultural knowledge growing up?
actly what I did, and to this day I At Colegio Arubano they teach all
have no regrets whatsoever with four art disciplines: dance, drama,
Daylan is a 24 years old Aruban student living in Utrecht, a vibrant mul- my choice!” music and visual arts. Like I men-
ticultural student city in the Netherlands. He is a senior, so this is his last tioned earlier, Daylan was very
study year part of the Bachelors of Theatre in Education at the HKU. How is it like studying art in The much active in participating in
Like many Aruban students who finish high school the decision is dif- Netherlands? plays on the island. These oppor-
ficult in deciding what to study. For some this is easier, but in Daylan’s “Studying the arts in The Nether- tunities really helped him to further
case after finishing VWO, he studied for one year at the University of lands is an amazing experience. It develop his creative skills while
Aruba. However, he knew this wasn’t what he wanted for his life and really changed my perspective on growing up. “However, I can’t say
so he took a year off and worked in the meantime. In March of 2015 a lot of things and opened my mind that this is equally so for all children
he took a trip to The Netherlands to audition at the HKU as part of the to think differently and creatively”. and teens growing up on Aruba. I
enrollment procedure of this bachelor. There were two auditions he While studying arts at the HKU Day- know that not all high schools on
had to commit to, one in March and one in April and each audition lan got to see and experience a Aruba want or have the resources
had two rounds. “Out of the approximately 250 students who partici- lot of things that are out of the or- to give all four art disciplines for
pated, only 21 were accepted, so the odds were pretty much against dinary and that you wouldn’t eas- example and drama at primary
me. Luckily I got accepted and now, nearly four years later, I am al- ily experience if you’re doing any schools is almost non-existing”.
most at the finish line”. other kind of study. Next to study- Next to the education Daylan was
ing, Daylan has acted in plays that exposed to at school, his mother
Currently, he is working on a play with two children and two students really elevated his acting skills and and aunt really pushed him to par-
from the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA). Next to this, he also do- he has seen some plays that have ticipate in cultural events such as
ing an internship at the HvA at the “pabo” where they educate stu- truly showed him what theatre ‘Dia di Betico’ or ‘Dera Gai’ due
dents to become primary school teachers. Daylan’s research is also can do to someone or to a whole to their cultural organization ‘Fun-
regarding the way they educate primary school teachers, so it is a community when it is treated as a dacion Mi Cutisa’.
perfect combination. Overall, in his free time, Daylan enjoys going real job and given its place. When
to different plays, hanging out with his friends, watch Netflix and play talking about theatre it is not only
games. about comedy plays, which most Continued on Page 14