MADE
ALUMNI
SHORTS
The past decade ADE has seen thousands of NHTV
students transform into their future alumni. These
alumni paved the way for those after them and for
those still to come by showing them that career
uncertainties after studies are always intimidating,
eerie, and spine-tingling, but never impossible. The
Contributor spoke with seven notable alumni who
each create in their own unique way. Each of whom
has the privilege to call their creative passion their
career. We spoke to them about their past at NHTV,
their current reality and their future dreams.
Text WILMA BEIJER, CLAUDIA URRUTIA CORTEZ, ELEANE
KUIPER, JITSKE MARRINGA, RUUD OOMENS, DEYA TSONEWA
Design FANNIE SCHELLINGERHOUT
18 THE CONTRIBUTOR
KASPER
VAN DER LAAN
Age: 33
Course: IMEM
Year of graduation: 2007
Occupation: Stand-up comedian /
Communication advisor
Company: Comedytrain / NMCH
Website: www.kaspervanderlaan.nl
When I started with IMEM it was still a new study
program. You could tell that they were still trying to find their strategy but I think that, at that
time, if you wanted to work in media it was one
of the educations you needed to do. A lot of the
students from my year actually work in media
now. It was at this school where I discovered
my creative potential and where I met people
who encouraged me to do something with comedy. I had always liked making jokes but actually pursuing a career in performing comedy on
stage never occurred to me, and when it did I
had no idea where to start. I moved to Amsterdam for my final placement and there I met a
comedian who convinced me to take the first
step. She told me to start writing stuff and to go
to an open mic night. My first performance was
painfully bad, but I liked it and wanted to do it
better the next time. So that’s what I’ve been
doing for the last four years. I recently started
working part-time so I can focus more on comedy. I think it’s important realize that when you
have big dreams you have to focus on taking
small steps forward. Otherwise your dream will
only be that, a dream.
THE CONTRIBUTOR 19