“Growing up, I always liked maths and physics. My dad also studied in Delft, and my mom studied mathematics, but they let me freely make my own choice. I was absolutely sure that I didn’t like history or languages, so for me it was an easy choice.
I looked at different faculties here. I looked into life sciences and I thought about studying medicine, but that also seemed like just learning things by heart, memorising things. Then I came here to aerospace and fell in love with the aircraft, and it was something you could really think about, and that’s why I decided to apply. It was also one of the most challenging programmes at Delft, and I really liked that.
I was really surprised about getting the scholarship. I first saw a message on Brightspace that was asking for a woman in aerospace, and there were a few requirements. I thought, well, I’m a first-year student, but I still meet all those requirements. I can write a nice motivation letter, and there was also a creative assignment. I thought if you never try, you never win. I just applied and then a few months later I learned I was selected in the top four. I was really surprised, and they forwarded my application to America. Then in June I heard that I had won, and I really did not expect it.
‘The people that I respect most are astronauts’
The people that I respect most are astronauts because they literally have to be able to do everything. They have to do sports, they need to be very smart, they work a lot, they travel a lot, and I really respect what they do. If I ever get the opportunity to apply in the future, I will. I will always try. I don’t expect that, but why not try? I always follow my own path and do what I want.
I’m interested in making new things and designing things. I think I will first work for a company and then maybe later I will set up my own company. I think it would be interesting to try and make aircraft as a means of public transportation. So instead of going to by train, I hope in the future we can all go to work by plane.”
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Heather Montague / Freelance writer
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