Choice year lets Janne dream about her future again

What if you enthusiastically embark on your dream vocational program with your high school diploma, only to find out after a few months that it's completely unsuitable? This is what happened to then seventeen-year-old Janne van Gaal from Asten-Heusden. She dropped out just before the end of the school year.

The big question, "What now?", caused her a great deal of stress and uncertainty. Until she read about Keuzejaar on the Summa Plus website. A year in which she discovered her talents and what truly made her happy. It happened to then-seventeen-year-old Janne van Gaal from Asten-Heusden. She dropped out just before the end of the school year.

"I've always loved children," says Janne. "I used to babysit a lot and loved playing with them. So after high school, I wanted to work in childcare." The then 17-year-old Janne enrolled in vocational training.specialized educational worker"I was completely ready and had high expectations," she recalls. But reality turned out differently. "The practical experience was tougher than I'd imagined. I quickly realized the program and I weren't a good match. The internships were a real eye-opener." Just before the end of the school year, Janne dropped out. "I was disappointed in myself," she says, "and I had no idea what I wanted to do next. I just didn't know what to do."

She read about the Keuzejaar (Choice Year) option on the Summa Plus website. "I immediately thought, 'This is how I feel, this is what I want.' The Keuzejaar promised me the space to rethink my future," Janne explains. "I was able to explore different programs and discover where my talents lay."

During the Elective Year, students actively explore their strengths and interests. They work on developing their personal profile and entrepreneurial spirit. They go on field trips to schools and companies and attend guest lectures. They also complete internships. Furthermore, they continue to develop their skills in general subjects like Dutch, English, and math, and participate in electives and the Facility Services Employee program. Ultimately, they take exams in all these subjects.

Janne was especially nervous about what other people thought of her. “Yes, that was a bit of a challenge. I want to be liked by everyone, and I thought people wouldn't. So, at my part-time job, I had to ask colleagues what they thought of me, where they thought my talents lay. And that was nerve-wracking. But it turned out that people were very positive about me. They found me cheerful, customer-friendly, and helpful. I've learned that you learn by doing. By asking around me how people perceived me, I started to feel more confident.”

During her elective year, Janne completed three internships. "I chose a completely different direction and interned at two different florists. But I soon felt the same stress and exhaustion again. This wasn't for me." She changed course again and enrolled at a dog grooming salon. "I'm an animal lover and have a Pomeranian named Copper. But it never occurred to me to work with dogs," she says. "When I walked into the dog grooming salon, I immediately felt at ease. The dogs brought me peace, and I loved taking care of them."

This last internship was a real eye-opener for Janne. "Third time's the charm, so to speak," says Janne with a twinkle in her eye. "It was like everything fell into place. The elective year helped me discover my strengths and find what truly makes me happy," she says. "I learned that it's okay to change course if something isn't right for you." Does she dare to dream again? "Definitely, I'm still debating whether I should work for six months first and then start. But eventually, I hope to open my own dog grooming salon."