Blogpost #5: Mat

Hey everyone!

We are already halfway through March and the year is flying by, but it’s never too late to tell you about my decision to do Board, my function, and my life as a Board member!

Although I was at first hesitant to apply to be a Board member since I knew that it would drastically change my day to day life for a year, I also knew that the opportunity of doing a Board year would be too good to pass up on. Looking back on this decision almost a year later, I’m incredibly glad that I made the right one!

Starting out as Candidate Candidate Board was a scary but incredibly exciting experience. As Chair my main priority was that we bonded as much as possible while we still had enough time (even though it was already very busy). We started out creating our shared vision for how we wanted to approach our Board year and what we wanted to achieve, after which it was time to make our vision concrete and put it into writing. This whole process was a ton of fun, enjoying the weekends away, drinks and activities, and a lot of (shared) thinking and daydreaming. But once our philosophy was set, and the summer holidays were over, the real challenge started.

At the start of the year everyone has to find their way in their roles, and try to figure out on the spot what the best way is to approach their separate and shared obstacles. In my role during this time I was mostly focused on ensuring that everyone was feeling comfortable and having fun in being Board and doing their Board work, supporting or finding solutions together to any challenges that came our way. 

Luckily, you get to have fun and enjoy yourself in so many different ways during a Board year, whether that is in the form of working hard and achieving your goals or if it’s by enjoying all of the many social events! Going to CoBo’s, hosting events, and crashing other association’s events are also a part of what you are doing week in and week out.

Getting to know other association’s Board members is one of my favourite and main roles this year. I regularly have meetings with our Psychology and Pedagogical Sciences sister associations as a contact person of both SSPN and LOOP. Next to this I also keep in good contact with our brother associations here at the VU through coffee talks, meetings, and CoBo’s. Learning how other associations tackle their problems and handle their day to day business differently has inspired and helped to broaden my view of how we can achieve our ambitions.

Becoming Chair of the VSPVU is one of the best things that has happened to me. Working hard every day to make our association the best it can possibly be, and the privilege to be doing this with a team of incredibly talented individuals (which have a nearly inexhaustible level of motivation), is a marvellous delight.

If you ever have any questions about what being Chair or Board is like, and would like to know more. Don’t hesitate to approach me in the room, or contact me for a cup of coffee!

Thanks, bye
Mat Goris
Chair of the 79th Board