Ever considered doing a board year? In this article Thomas will tell you more about his experience as External Affairs.
9 November, 2023
Voor de Nederlandse versie klik hier.
In this article, Julia and Michelle share more about all the experiences during their board year. A year that meant a lot of personal growth, hard work but also a lot of fun for both of them. But what do they actually do during such a week? In this article, they take you through an ‘average’ week as Vice-Chairman and Winter External Affairs of Asset | Accounting & Finance.
Who am I?
Julia: I am Julia Timmermans and I am 23 years old. I am originally from Roermond, but I moved to Tilburg in 2019, in the second year of my studies. During my board year, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and from January I will start my master’s degree in Accountancy. I became an active member of Asset | Accounting & Finance last year and then did the Orientation Committee. I enjoyed this so much that I then decided to do a board year.
Michelle: My name is Michelle Weemhoff and I am 21 years old. I come from Papendrecht, so I’m definitely not from Brabant, but I ended up in Tilburg. Because I thought it would be great fun to make friends anyway, I first explored and eventually decided that A&F was the place for me. Here, after six months I joined Investment Night committee, board.
Why did I choose a board year?
Julia: During the first years of my student life, I didn’t really have a good idea what a study association entailed and certainly not what you do all day as a board member of such an association. When I joined Asset | Accounting & Finance last September, I quickly got to know a lot of nice people and saw what interesting (formal) events were being organised. Through Celine, who had been on the board for six months by then, I got a better idea of board life and what it all entails. I was not yet ready to start my master’s and wanted to develop in other areas before entering work life. That finally made me decide to do a board year.
Michelle: I was done with the theory of my studies for a while and didn’t need a job that would force me to (temporarily) say goodbye to student life, so a board position was the perfect solution for me. At the time, I didn’t know at all that a board position would bring me so much and, above all, it seemed like a lot of fun. That I would expand my network so much, develop my professional skills, from communication to acquisition to management so much and learn so much valuable in such a short time had not occurred to me. Then I just thought “nice, no more courses”.
What does your function entail?
Julia: As Vice-Chairman, you are basically the first point of contact for members. At the beginning of each semester, you have a meeting with (new) members to see which committee they want to do and which one suits them best. I am also responsible for all promotion of the association. For example, for recruiting new members, but also for promoting events. I then also design all posts that appear on social media. I am also responsible for the website. Apart from these regular tasks, I also organise the Audit Activity and the Warming Up Activity. Finally, I coordinate the Accounting Insight committee, the CityTrip committee and the A&F Cooking Club.
Within Asset | Tilburg, I also sit on four more bodies, namely the Public Relations Meeting, in which all Vice-Chairmans sit together to organise events for Asset; the Webmaster Meeting, in which we discuss all kinds of website-related matters; the BE cluster, in which all BE departments organise events for Business Economics students; and the Study Support meeting, in which we discuss matters about our guidelines together with MAK. So you also work very closely with other departments.
Michelle: I am one of the two External Affairs we have at A&F. Yet, except for the basics, my duties are very different from those of summer External Affairs. For instance, my function is very much related to Finance. Namely, I organise the Banking Days, I coordinate the Financial Business Dinner and the Finance Expedition, and I am setting up a new Fintech event. Besides these events, I am very busy throughout the year with our partners, running acquisition but also more internal matters. For example, I have taken on the organisation of our Monthly Drinks (most recently with the theme of special beer and in a fortnight’ time a delicious cocktail afternoon).
What is the best thing about your job?
Julia: What I like most about my job is the diversity. Your range of tasks may seem a bit unclear at first glance, but that also gives you the chance to unleash your own creativity and take on different tasks. It is also a very social job. You are in contact with people a lot and get to know many different people. I really enjoy that.
Michelle: I really like the fact that my job is so varied and challenging, but also that I have a lot of freedom. I really decide myself which companies I want at our events, how I organise my day and with whom I set up all new ideas. Ultimately, you are the face of the association and responsible for bringing in money, but in addition, you are also responsible for offering students the right career opportunities. The fact that my job is so varied and free, but at the same time vital for the association, ensures that you carry a lot of responsibility and can therefore also get a lot of satisfaction from your own success projects.
Any final words?
Julia: Before starting my board year, I had no idea that I would learn so much from it. I have developed a lot both personally and professionally and I am very grateful for that. I got to know a lot of people and made friendships for life. Finally, I have had experiences that I will never forget.
Michelle: This year has not always been without bumps in the road. No boardmember will try to tell you that, but I can say without a doubt that this has been the most beautiful and educational year of my life. It is such a unique year and I cannot really imagine any other context where you experience such a special mix of professionalism and sociability.
