During my last year of high-school I wasn't really sure what to study after graduation. Although my main interest was in Economics, other more technical studies also interested me. Eventually I chose to study Economics and Business at the UvA because the first year consisted of a broad spectrum of courses. This allowed me to get familiar with the different disciplines of Economics before choosing a specific track. After the first year I decided to take the Bachelor of Business Economics, Accountancy & Control track, since the courses offered in this track suited me best.

My interest in accountancy increased during the following years as the courses became more and more specialised. Student participation in courses also increased and this helped me with developing my presentation skills. Writing my Bachelor's thesis, which is a mandatory part of the study programme, was an instructive experience. You get a lot of freedom during the writing process and you are able to express your own views based on the knowledge gathered during prior courses. I obtained my Bachelor's degree in September 2007.

This year I hope to finish my Master's in Accountancy and I look forward to start putting theory into practice. I intend to write my Master's thesis at the university, and who knows where I might end up after receiving my Master's degree.

The culture within the UvA is very open and informal, lecturers are willing to help you will all kinds of problems or answer any questions you might have. Currently I am working part-time as a teaching assistant in the Accounting section, which is a good way of getting to know the lecturers and the UvA from a different perspective.

The parties organised by the SEFA student association are a valuable addition to the programme of study at the UvA Faculty of Economics and Business. Its a great way of meeting fellow students in a more informal environment.