From pre-vocational secondary education to university: ‘I had already learned to work independently’

An secondary education levels film program or further studies? Finance student Paul van Dommelen (24) chose to pursue higher education after completing vocational school. After moving from pre-vocational secondary education to senior general secondary education and later through adult education, he eventually made his way to university. ‘I don’t view my educational journey as an extraordinary achievement or a tough ordeal,’ he says.

What path did you take to get into university?

‘I started my educational journey at pre-vocational secondary education, where I earned my diploma in four years. After completing this, I faced an important decision: should I enroll in the secondary education film program in Den Bosch, or continue my studies? Ultimately, I decided to further my education by moving on to senior general secondary education, keeping my options open. During this time, I discovered a growing enjoyment in learning.

‘I completed my senior general secondary education diploma in two years and, in my final year, developed the ambition to advance to pre-university education. Although I didn’t graduate cum laude from pre-vocational secondary education, I managed to achieve cum laude honors for both my senior general secondary education and pre-university education diplomas. I completed pre-university education at adult education, where it was possible to earn a diploma in just one year.

‘Adult education turned out to be excellent preparation for university. Since I was no longer subject to compulsory education, I had to take care of many things independently. This experience gave me the self-discipline and autonomy that proved invaluable during my university studies.’

How did you experience the transitions between different levels, such as from pre-vocational secondary education to senior general secondary education or to university?

‘The transition from pre-vocational secondary education to senior general secondary education was the most challenging for me. At pre-vocational secondary education, everyone already felt quite mature by the end of the program, but when I moved to secondary eduction, I found myself among younger classmates, many of whom were only halfway through their high school journey. It sometimes felt like the teachers were standing in front of a kindergarten class.

‘On the other hand, the transition from adult school to university didn’t feel as significant. Thanks to my experience at adult school, I had already learned how to work independently and understand the consequences of my choices. For instance, I knew that staying up all night could affect my exam results. Now that I’m in my master’s program, I realize how much I benefit from that experience. Although I may be a bit older than other students, it has helped me make more mindful decisions and work more purposefully toward my goals.’

What does it mean for you to study at university?

‘In my surroundings, it’s considered remarkable that I study at university. For example, during job interviews, I notice that people are impressed by my journey. I understand why they say that, but I don’t view my educational path as an exceptional achievement or a tough ordeal.

‘Although I have earned three high school diplomas, I don’t think they collectively deserve more recognition than each diploma individually. For me, recognition is not about the number of diplomas, but about the value of what someone contributes. A plumber who solves practical problems at home, in my opinion, deserves just as much, if not more, respect and appreciation.’

Have you encountered any prejudices or misconceptions about students with a pre-vocational secondary education background?

‘My experience is that pre-vocational secondary education students often work harder than senior general secondary education students. The pre-vocational secondary education students I was in class with were all hardworking and humble. They understood that they needed to put in effort to get ahead, and everyone put energy into it.

‘On the other hand, at senior general secondary education, I often got the sense that students felt somewhat superior. I frequently heard things like, ‘I could have done pre-university education, but I just didn’t feel like it.’ That felt very strange to me, almost condescending. At pre-vocational secondary education, I never heard anyone say, ‘I could have done senior general secondary education, but I chose this because I find it easier.”

What do you see as the strengths of students who reach university through a different path?

‘For students with a pre-university education background, going to university is often a logical step, while for students with another diploma, it’s less obvious. They must make a conscious choice to pursue an academic education, which requires determination and focus.

‘For example, they face certain entry requirements when transitioning from pre-vocational secondary education to senior general secondary education, or a tough pre-master program if they want to progress from university of applied sciences to university. This pre-master, especially in economic fields, is often more intense than a regular bachelor’s degree. I believe these students often have a unique mentality: they know what it means to work hard.

‘I also know how important it is to perform when it matters most. I’ve learned that nothing comes easily, and success depends on the choices you make and the effort you put in. But it also depends on a bit of luck or misfortune: although I wasn’t immediately placed in the pre-university education track in my first year of high school, I was fortunate that a teacher encouraged me to continue my studies.’

It sounds like that teacher was very important for your educational journey?

‘That’s correct. This teacher was my mentor in the 4th year senior general secondary education. One day, he came to me and said, ‘Paul, I’ve seen your grades. If you want to go to pre-university education, you need to take action and start studying an additional foreign language. Can you think about that?’ Thanks to him, I was able to catch up on German in one year, which helped me reach my goals.

‘Additionally, my economics teacher was also very important. He greatly assisted me in choosing my study path by giving me insights into the different study options. For example, he explained what the field of finance entails, which helped me get a clearer picture of the direction I wanted to go in. It’s thanks to his guidance and enthusiasm that I’ve decided to pursue a master’s in Finance.’

_Advertentie.