I am Erik Leering, proud 57th Secretary and Officer Educational Affairs of our beautiful association, W.S.G. Abacus! In this small piece, I will let you know what affairs have led me to be where I am now. 

Let’s start with some interesting facts:

-            At the time of writing, am 24 years old

-            My favorite color is red

-            My lucky number is 5

-            I have an older and a younger brother

With that out of the way, let’s review how I decided to apply to be in the 57th board. To do so, we should first review how I started studying mathematics in Twente. 

I was born and raised in the well-known metropolis of Langedijk, which is known for many traditions and sites of interest. For example, every year we run around the town on our beds (which are on wheels) for the traditional ‘Beddenrace’. Furthermore, while there are many fairs, we host most notably the Langedijker grand fair ‘Zuip-Scharwoude’. If you are a cultural person, you might enjoy the historical landmark of Museum broekerveiling, located in the beautiful empire of a thousand islands (which actually consisted out of more than 15 thousand islands), or you might want to visit the famous 'Lichtjesavond', where the town lights up as everybody decorates their homes, but more notably their BOATS, as they sail around the previously mentioned 1000 islands. Right next to Langedijk is also the recreational area of Geestmerambacht, which is the site of several big festivals, which you can reach by bike. This lake is also an excellent place to sport, as it provides a near-perfect 5km distance which you can run twice to run a good distance. Furthermore, the lake has some individual training facilities for calisthenics. On the topic of sports and tradition, Langedijk also annually hosts the famous `Zuurkoolcup', where all the local football clubs compete. The name is derived from the main sponsor, namely Kramer Zuurkool, which is the biggest producer of sauerkraut in the Netherlands, and one of the biggest producers of sauerkraut in the world. The zuurkoolcup takes place around the same time as the Beddenrace and also attracts a large crowd. After the games are played, the festivities start, with the performance of live bands. 

Lastly, there is the primary school called ‘De Wijde Veert’, which after translating from a dialect translates to the wide pond/ditch. There, I learned to develop my independent learning skills, and met many people who I still up to this day see as my best friends. In fact, I often visit Langedijk to see them, and we still go on vacation together annually. After successfully graduating from this institution, I took of to the neighboring slum known as Heerhugowaard, where the school Han Fortmann is located. This was by chance the nearest school where one could finish their education at VWO level, and they even offered bilingual education and an IB program, in which yours truly participated. Apart from some extra education in our association’s spoken language, this program sent us on many nice outings abroad, to the United Kingdom and Brussels, and on an exchange in Italy. This is where I developed my love for the international community. 

In my final years of high school, I was very much in doubt of what I should study. For most of my high school years, I believed I would study physics. I was inspired by my teacher in physics, who was not very good at it, which left me to figure our most of the high school physics on my own. Only in my final year did I start to consider mathematics as a study to pursue. Truthfully, it does not sound as sexy as discovering the truths of the universe in a physical way, but when you consider mathematics as the deeper abstraction of all truth in the universe it does become quite appealing. My inability to make a decision led me to enroll for both physics and mathematics. All that was left was to find the place where I would do these studies. 

Since my lengthy paragraph about the beautiful Langedijk, my first choice would have been to study in Delft. One visit as a student-for-a-day with other physics-mathematics students left me running away from there, to the open days at Enschede. There, I had my first conversation with anyone in Twente with our former chairman of the 54th board, Niels Apeldoorn, who happened to also be a physics-mathematics double student and who did not have me running away. Furthermore, I first laid eyes upon the beautiful, torched remains of former couches on the university’s campus, and I was sold. 

If you are still in the process of finding a new home near the university, know that you are not alone in having these difficulties. My love for the campus was not so easily answered, as it took about 17 co-option talks before I found a house crazy enough to take me in. After co-opting at one house, they saw me awkwardly depart for a co-option talk with their upstairs-neighbors. After a disastrous co-option talk with the upstairs neighbors, I felt all hope was lost. Yet, when I made my way downstairs, I was welcomed by a group of merry idiots, who were happy to share with me the news that I had found a home in the place called Cosa Nostra, a place where many a mathematician is welcome to have a drink and a chat. In particular, I was privleged to have our own Jayan Budjhawan as a housemate for a week there. 

When my studies had finally began, it become clear almost instantly that my initial preference for physics was folly. I had a great time with the study association of physics, namely S.V. Arago, but I found myself drawn to the fun, inclusive environment of W.S.G. Abacus. Here, I felt more than ever that anyone could be themselves with no worry, and they would find friendships that last perhaps for life. 

This is also what ultimately led me to apply to be in the board of W.S.G. Abacus. Some may know that I initially applied to be the Officer of Educational Affairs for the 53d board, without success. Instead, I took on a job as a part-time teacher at Twente Pathway College, where I still work mostly behind the screens up to this day. Nevertheless, becoming board of W.S.G. Abacus remained on my bucket list. After some discussions with (among others) my now-chairman Patrick Heuven at an unforgettable active member’s weekend in Arnhem, I decided to once again apply to be in the board. Since this year marks the seventh year of my participation in our five year long program (technically six as my side hustle at the Robotics master will claim one extra year) and since I expect to take another two years before I graduate after my board year, I decided it would be best to combine the board year with my studies and to do part-time in both. Luckily with the help of all of the old board members and all of the involved members of W.S.G. Abacus, I expect this to go smoothly.

Which leaves me to conclude my board piece. For whoever had the bright idea to read all of the above, I extend my gratitude, as it was my pleasure to write about my favorite topic, myself. For sure, I am looking forward to a year filled with joy and opportunities. If you want to discuss your favorite parts of Langedijk, play a game of chess, have a coffee and/or a nice chat, I am more than happy to do so in the Abacus room!