Shirley Kempeneer: ‘For me, being happy is the greatest achievement in life’

She is Tilburg University’s Lecturer of the Year: Shirley Kempeneer, Assistant Professor at Tilburg Law School. Teaching and being taught complement each other, according to Kempeneer. ‘I learn a lot from my students. Not only transmitting but also receiving, that is my view on education.’

1. What did you want to be when you were a child?

‘In secondary school, I once interviewed a flight attendant. I thought it was a very exciting job because it seemed glamorous. It turned out not to be glamorous at all due to irregular working hours and a lot of stress. But it did appeal to me at the time, because you would get to see so much of the world.’

2. You unexpectedly have a free afternoon. How do you spend it?

‘I prefer to spend time with my husband and our dachshund, Eddie. My husband will probably be working if I suddenly have a free afternoon, but Eddie certainly won’t. So, I would take the dog for a walk in the woods. Just enjoying nature.’

3. What is a perfect night out for you?

‘I’m a total homebody, as they say. I prefer spending my evenings on the couch with a good book. A book I often reread is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. If I do go out, I choose live music like a concert. I often combine it with going out for a nice dinner.’

4. What music can you never get enough of?

‘My taste in music is all over the place. I love everything. I’m a huge fan of Herman van Veen, but I’m also a Swifty, a Taylor Swift fan. The live music I listen to most often is metalcore. I recently went to a show by Architects, whom I think are great. And I really enjoy festivals like Graspop and Jera On Air.’

5. What is something few people know about you?

‘Pole dancing is something I really enjoy. I can do a split and a handstand. I’m also quite strong, which some people may not know. I work out a lot and often train with weights. I could beat most people at arm wrestling.’

6. Your house is on fire and you can save only one possession. What do you take?

‘I’m a very prepared person, because I have a bag packed with all the important things. It contains my passport, some cash, and a flashlight. It’s basically an emergency getaway bag. If we ever have to leave, we’ll be properly ready.’

7. What makes you angry?

‘I grew up in a family with eight children, and I’m the youngest. So I can handle quite a lot. I don’t complain often, but when I do, it’s about the NS. I’ve been stranded so many times, or suddenly had to take a bus… The NS is something that really irritates me.’

8. What are you most proud of?

‘That I’m happy. I think that’s the achievement in life. My family often says they’re proud of me because I have a PhD and am doing well as a lecturer. But that’s partly just being lucky in life. It’s not about achievements for me. If they ever want to write something on my headstone, it should be: She was happy.’

9. What should you really do more often?

‘I’m always searching for balance in life. You have to do good work, but also make time for your partner, friends, and family. And then you still have to work out enough and have hobbies, but also relax. And I struggle with that sometimes.

‘What I mainly should do more often is call my mother. And learn Italian. I love the country, and I have many Italian colleagues.’

10. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

‘Planning ahead isn’t my thing, so I honestly don’t know. In the past, assistant professor positions were temporary, so a full professorship with a permanent contract appealed to me more because of job security.

‘Now I have a permanent contract, so that’s no longer an issue. But in ten years I’ll be wherever I belong, wherever that may be. And maybe, if I actually learn Italian, I’ll be living on a farm in Italy.’

11. Dutch or English?

‘I find my personality more fun in English than in Dutch. I express myself differently in Dutch, English, or Flemish. I’m a bit more extroverted when I speak English. But ideally, I would like to speak Italian, because I think it’s the most beautiful language.’

12. Would you rather teach your whole life or be a student your whole life?

‘That’s not a contradiction at all. When you teach, you learn from your students. And the other way around, as a student you also share with your teachers. That’s my view on education: not only transmitting, but also receiving.’

13. Never snack again or never work out again?

‘I really love working out. I think it’s the only thing that keeps me mentally healthy. When I come home after a stressful day at work, my husband immediately tells me: ‘Go work out first, get out.’ Then I go for a run or do a good workout session. After that, I come back, dinner is ready, and everything is fine again.’

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