Sometimes you have to search first to find what suits you

Not everyone knows which education is right for them at sixteen. And that's fine. At Summa, young people can get extra time and guidance after graduating from secondary school to discover themselves and their education. Elective year is an example of this. Summa also offers other routes where young people can first experience, taste, and try before choosing a study program.

For Jinte Prein (19) from Waalre, that Choice Year was exactly what she needed. After high school, she simply didn't know what to do. "I had no idea what I wanted," she says. Instead of 'just choosing something,' she decided to take the Choice Year at Summa when she was 16. She is now in the final year of the program. Teaching assistant at Summa Zorg & Welzijn and is working towards her next step: the conservatory.

During her elective year, Jinte wrote the English song 'Now I Know Who I Am' about her search for the right education. The lyrics are a recurring theme throughout her story.

"You're pushed a little bit throughout the year to step outside your comfort zone," Jinte says. "Not extremely, but enough to help you discover yourself." She noticed this especially in herself. "At the beginning of the year, for example, I didn't really have the courage to stand in front of a class and speak in front of people. That really changed over the course of the year."

According to her, it's not just a single moment. "Maybe because you're getting a year older, but mainly because you do a lot of new things and meet people that year."

What made the elective year special for her was the variety. "We really did a bit of everything. A technology period, a cooking period, creative things. I love learning and discovering new things anyway, so that variety was perfect for me."

Sometimes the surprises were in the little things. "In engineering, I suddenly found myself making skirting boards. I thought that was pretty cool. Not necessarily to do something professionally with it later, but just to be involved. And it's handy for knowing how it works later on," Jinte laughs.

At the beginning of the school year, she wasn't sure about anything. "Everything we did made me think: okay, what do I like? What am I good at?"

During the Choice Year, Jinte visited various Summa programs. "You see and try much more than you think beforehand." A key moment was the project with the music program. Rock City InstituteEarlier that year, Jinte had written a song about her search for a school project. When she was given the opportunity to collaborate with music students, everything suddenly clicked. "The song came to life!" She eventually performed her own song at a festival. "I found that really nerve-wracking," she says. "Playing your own song live in front of two hundred strangers. That's quite personal. But I loved it. I was especially happy I did it."

Looking back, Jinte thinks sixteen is too young to have to make a decision. "You have to decide what you might do for the rest of your life! That's quite intense. Some students don't have a problem with that; they know what they want. But I see many friends around me making the wrong choice and ultimately switching programs." She saw the difference when she later started her teaching assistant program. "After the first year, students dropped out because they realized the program wasn't right for them. I was especially glad then that I'd taken the Elective Year and was already well-informed."

The extra year didn't feel like wasted time to her. "It's certainly not a wasted year. You're still taking your subjects. I passed my Dutch, English, and math exams, so I now have exemptions for those."

Ultimately, it became clear during the year what she wanted: music. "That direction became increasingly clear." However, she consciously chose the Teaching Assistant program as an interim step. "Working with people, teaching a class. That suits me." Her next step is also very logical: "I want to audition for the conservatory. I've already attended several open houses, because ultimately, I want to become a music teacher."

What would you say to students who are currently having doubts?

If you don't know yet, it's perfectly okay to admit that. Not everyone follows the same path. Some know exactly what they want. And for others, a Choice Year is incredibly helpful. It made a huge difference for her. "I'm much more confident now. That certainly wasn't the case before the Choice Year."