It's almost done!

Today I made my last two tests. It marked the end of a great year. Last September I returned to school. It was the best thing I've ever done. Honestly. I met some great people, made some dear friends, had a wonderful time and in between learned quite a few things.

When I decided to go back to school at the age of 25, I expected it to be hard. I never was a great student, but there comes a time in your life that you just, well, just fucking have do it. And I'm glad I did!

As far as studying is concerned I never expected it to be this easy. Something I'm very happy about. Around me I saw some classmates struggling and just not being able to cope. That's pretty shitty. Especially because it came really easy to me. I felt a little sore about it. But I'm glad I made it this far. It sucks though some great people have to leave. But I'm sure I will be seeing them around town for a cup of coffee!

Next Friday we're having the last broadcast of Campus Radio, a daily radioshow I host once every week. That was the best thing this year. I never thought I was into radio that much. But from the very first time I entered the studio I was hooked. There's a special vibe to it. It's difficult to explain. But I love it. Next Friday is gonna be crazy! That's for sure! Check it out at www.utrechtmagazine.hu.nl !!!

After that it one more week of having fun and doing some cool things with a camera :) I'm into it! Besides that I'm already looking forward to next year. That sounds pretty crazy for a guy that dropped out of school at age 20. But hey, give me a break. I worked five years in a shitty factory. I'm just re-living my youth.

Before I forget! All the kids complaining about school and homework and that crap. Just fucking enjoy it! It doesn't get any better than this!!! Trust me.

My column as it was printed in Clocked In #2

The ability to change

The problem with a column like this is: the people who read it most of the time already agree with you. It’s like preaching for a group of people who know what you are going to say and in general pretty much think the same. Why would they buy or read the zine otherwise? If they think the bands you like are shit and your ideas or views are bullshit the first time, they never buy your zine a second time. Or do they? But what the hell.

Bands have the ability to change things. When you start a band with some friends it might not be your first intention to get to the mind of kids. And some may even laugh at the idea. But you sure can. And maybe you must. Or at least try. Hardcore or punk rock was not meant to be a bunch of kids holding hands talking about their new shoes and the girl they fucked the other night. To some of you it might be. But to me it has to be something that challenges me and keeps me willing to find out more about what and why a certain band is saying.

In my opinion the hardcore scene started out as a form of resistance against the world around it. Bands back then had something to be angry about. Reaganomics, most of them came from broken homes, didn’t have a proper education, some of them didn’t even have a home. I live in nice house with a big garden and a two-years-old kitchen, the government pays for most of my school expenses, my parents are still together and alive and the party for which I voted won big in the last elections.

Isn’t there anything to be angry about besides some message board beef? Of course there is! The ignorant attitude of people towards our environment and how and why it changes, Wilders and Verdonk and their electorate, religion, the unethical treatment of animals, the complete stupidity on television each day! I could go on for hours…. Maybe you don’t agree with mé. But sure there are things you think are just not good.

Hardcore and punk rock are a perfect setting to advocate against such things. Younger kids listen to the lyrics and might say: “Hey! That’s a something I totally agree with!” Or maybe they don’t agree with you. At least it made them think about something. That’s what got me into hardcore. A place to belong and people that had something to say. Not only in their lyrics, but also on stage. Maybe I have changed and so did my opinion on a number of subjects. But it sure as hell made me think about the world and my place in it.

Of course a hardcore show can be a place to party with your friends. But you must not forget there’s so much more. I come from a scene that was mostly about partying. All the time. Not a bad thing and I had a great time and still do. But the bands that really got to me, were the bands that actually had a message. Judge, Maximum Penalty and Warzone. Maybe they’re not the most obvious bands when you think about mind changing experiences. But in one way or the other their lyrics told me about breaking away from certain things and bad habbits. Personal development played a big roll in my life back then. You see, it doesn’t even have to be political or anything. It’s all about opening up.