The Daily Herald -Laura Roxanne Bijnsdorp

Recap your story: I was born on March 3, 1989, on St. Maarten. Three years later the best little sister I could have was born. I grew up having parents that supported me in everything I wanted to do: piano, flute, drawing, painting, horseback riding, tennis and dancing lessons. When I was 14, my parents gave me a small video camera, which my friends and I used to make ridiculous videos. Joining the LEO club, I received the opportunity to start a TV-Program for the youth of St. Maarten. Deciding I liked filming more than schoolbooks, I applied and passed for the admissions exam to study Audiovisual Media. Luckily also passing my VWO exam in 2008, I left for Holland.

My first year in college was spent learning film from my classmates and experiencing student life in Holland. My second year I wanted to start filming again in St. Maarten. I got the opportunity to do so two months ago producing a project for the Caribbean Foundation for Sustainability, with the help of the LIONS club.

This summer I'll be back, with a lot of new ideas and projects. You will surely hear more about those soon.

What St. Maarten district are you from? Cole Bay

Where did you go to school on St. Maarten? Nijntje Playschool, Jolly Dwarf Kindergarten, Sister Magda Primary School and Milton Peters College.

What is your favourite St. Maarten memory? This was the toughest question to answer. I'm lucky to have a group of amazing friends that provided me with countless favourite St. Maarten memories. Sundays on Mullet, crazy nights in Maho, camping on Pinel, horseback riding on the beach, Leo projects & filming days on Kimsha to name a few.

What was your biggest surprise when you left the island? How much I missed my parents!

What are your accomplishments? All of the short films & documentaries I've made so far I see as accomplishments. Making something that you imagined and putting it on film is crazy stressful. At the same time, it puts you in a different world, it's the best natural high ever. If at the same time you make something that people are grateful for or can enjoy, that is an ultimate accomplishment.

What are your goals? Having fun & seeing the world are at the top of my list. So far I've managed to do that while filming. In the future I hope to start a business producing different types of audio and visual entertainment.

What makes you special? My imagination.

Where do you get your drive? Mainly from the need to be proud of who I am. Family & friends being proud of who I am is a welcome bonus.

How long have you been gone from the island? Almost two years.

Do you have any advice for the young people of St. Maarten? Make the most of your time studying abroad. There are so many opportunities here to see, do and learn new things.

Are you planning to return to St. Maarten in the future? Yes, I'm coming back for summer vacation/internship in June. Much further I haven't looked yet into the location of my future. I do come back to St. Maarten every chance I get, so SXM will keep seeing a lot of me.