Name: Mels de Zeeuw
Age: 21
Mels in three words: driven, ambitious, hardworking

Mels on the SPIL:
The SPIL is a very well organized, put together association. It’s tricky to offer your members a combination of both academically challenging activities as well as organize fun activities. The SPIL manages to pull this off very well. We organize lectures, travels abroad, socials and parties. For a relatively small association the SPIL has a lot to offer to its members. Besides this we offer our members an opportunity to develop themselves next to their regular studies. To be active in committees or the board is fun as well as educational. I hope that in my position as secretary on the board this year, to be able to participate in this tradition.

Mels on Political Science:
From when I was young I’ve been interested in politics. I enjoyed, and still do enjoy, discussing politics extensively at the dinner table with my family or in the bar with friends. Political Science offered me the possibility to turn my passion and hobby into my career. I’ve enjoyed all that the faculty had to offer last year. It’s widened my view of political science extensively be it due to the academic experience, a semester abroad at UCLA or an internship in the Dutch parliament. It’s helped me to determined what I want to do in my life and what I want to do with politics.Mels on politics:
Like I said I’ve always been interested in politics. I’m what you can consider a ‘news junkie’. I devour newspaper, the internet, CNN, or everything that has something to do with political news. I love to be involved in politics besides my study. I’ve spent a year in the local youth council in Pijnacker, advising the local government on youth policy. I’ve also spent a year as a member of the board of the local branch of a political party and I’ve worked as an intern for a parliamentary faction in the Dutch parliament. While sometimes this affected my studies negatively, it’s certainly been worth it. Politics is in my blood.

Mels in 10 years:
A few years ago this piece would have looked completely different. Back then I was convinced I wanted to go into the corps diplomatique. I was interested in everything that had to do with international politics. The last few years my passions and interests have changed. I’ve become more and more interested in political theory and history. After spending half a year in the US and studying at UCLA I now want to get a PHD in the US. Next to this I’ve developed an interest in political economy and American history. In 10 years I hope to be pursuing these interests, preferably in the US.