Marjolein Heslinga
'My favourite subject at secondary school was mathematics. I always took part in the Mathematical Olympiad and Kangaroo Mathematics Competition, and my marks were always high. But I also really enjoyed technology. I loved building things and putting them together, in the beginning with wood and nails, but later on also with cogs and electronics. I was very inquisitive about how devices and machines work, how they are put together.
This passion for mathematics, assembling things and inquisitiveness proved to fit in perfectly with the Bachelor’s programme in Mechanical Engineering. I’m currently finishing off my last courses and can look back with a satisfied feeling on the past few years. In addition to mathematics and physics courses, I was also always working on a project. We constructed such things as a cart that could store energy, a marble sorting board and a beer robot. During my minor, I spent time abroad at ETH Zurich taking courses in robotics. For the last half year, I’ve been working on a bird robot, my Bachelor’s final project. So the time has come to choose a Master’s programme, and my advice for making a good choice is to do something you’re good at, but even more important is to do something you really enjoy!'