Student Coach
Siggie’s coaches are part of Vitalmindz, which employs several psychologists with a variety of backgrounds. Our Siggie coaches are scientifically trained, familiar with the target group and all work with Siggie’s specific approach based on positive psychology. Every Siggie coach values our effective approach for students. And of course everyone makes a personal difference in their own way. Two of our coaches – Dominique and Joost – introduce themselves and are happy to share how they approach their role:
Joost
Coach
I started as a student full of enthusiasm, wild plans, and the ambition to have the time of my life. Unfortunately, during my first year, I was faced with a major accident in my family that forced me to live at home again to support the family and save my parents’ business. My results at university were very disappointing and I was in risk of being expelled from school. During that time I looked for help to combine the care of my family but at the same time to chase my own dreams.
I eventually found the help I needed and with the right knowledge and skills, I learned to deal with this difficult situation. I also learned to find a balance between helping my family and the time I needed for my own study. During that period I was able to experience how valuable it was to be heard and helped as a student, in a period when everything is coming your way.
Equal, honest, confrontational, and personal.
Sports, guitars, books, coffee, good conversations, and nice glass of wine.
Dominique
Coach
As a student I noticed how important it is to receive support during a difficult time. During my studies and building a life of my own, my mother’s illness occupied a big part of my life. I noticed that this was difficult to combine with everything that had to be done for my studies. After my mother passed away, I made a conscious decision to take some time for myself and take a break from studying. Dealing with it all was simply too much to handle for me at that time. The study asked too much of me for everything I was going through emotionally. I have seen the same thing happen to students when I worked as a teacher and tutor at the university.
I have learned how there can be time, or that you can make time, for living life. And there is more to life than just studying. We all have to deal with events that are part of the fragile nature of life. I think it’s important at those times that you are surrounded by people who care for you. To me, caring means: having patience, coming over, not being scared so that the other person can open up. And can slowly blossom again, as Rupi Kaur describes in this passage of a poem.
think of those flowers you plant
in the garden each year
they will teach you
that people too
must wilt
fall
root
rise
in order to bloom
Empathetic, open, process-guiding, personal, inspiring.
Poetry, good conversations, arthouse films, photography, plants and contributing to a world with more compassion for each other and the earth we live on.