Flexible education opens doors
Twenty-year-old Lauri Kremers from Asten has already charted her path at a young age: the world of optics is her future. With her HAVO diploma in hand, she applies for the HBO (higher professional education) program in Orthoptics in Utrecht.
After a year, she had to drop out of school. It felt like her dream was falling apart. "Still, I decided not to give up. Through a customized program at Summa, I was able to obtain my vocational diploma in Optics within a year and move on to higher professional education. That transition turned out to be exactly what I needed," says Lauri.
The transition from pre-university education (HAVO) to higher professional education (HBO) was difficult for Lauri: "I found the content of my studies interesting, but I quickly realized I lacked knowledge and was lagging behind in certain subjects. My chosen profile at HAVO didn't align with the HBO program. I dropped out, but my passion for the optics world certainly hadn't diminished," she emphasizes.
Second chance at Summa
After some research, I found Summa's vocational training program in Optics. I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to follow a flexible program that aligned with what I already knew and what I still wanted to learn. I found the idea of setting my own pace very appealing. I wanted to progress quickly, and Summa made that possible.
Together with her academic advisor, she created a personalized program. "I was able to skip certain components because I already had a year of university of applied sciences (HBO) under my belt. This allowed me to focus on the subjects that were truly relevant. Instead of two years, I completed my degree in one. Being able to follow such an accelerated program gave me the feeling of regaining control over my future."
Freedom and responsibility
The flexible learning at Summa was a huge opportunity for Lauri. “And I grabbed it with both hands, even though it wasn't always easy. Without a fixed schedule, I had to plan my own tasks and maintain my own motivation. That was quite challenging at times. Making social connections is also more difficult because you don't have a fixed class. I bounced between first-year and second-year classes. But that freedom also gave me confidence. I learned to work independently and make purposeful choices, skills I'll definitely benefit from later on,” says Lauri. “My teachers were indispensable in this process. They saw what I was already capable of and encouraged me to be the best I could be. Their guidance gave me the energy to persevere, even on the tough days.”
New start at university
When Lauri received her vocational diploma after a year, she wanted to return to the orthoptics program at a university of applied sciences. "That wasn't really necessary. Because if you stop studying at a university of applied sciences, you're not allowed to start again in the first three years. No, you get, you get. I literally got stuck in and wrote a cover letter. With a positive outcome. The program made an exception, so in September I started the orthoptics program again in Utrecht, this time with a more solid foundation," Lauri says proudly. What Lauri wants to say to others who are unsure about their studies or are struggling is: "Don't give up. Sometimes a dream seems far away, but there are always other ways to get there. At Summa, I had the opportunity to rediscover myself and achieve my goals. My message: flexible education opens doors!"