The Daily Herald -Ruthaidith Desiree Rudolfina

Recap your story: Well, I was born on April 17, 1989, on St. Maarten. From a young age, my mother taught me to do what makes me happy, never let anything get in my way and fight in a positive way for what I believe in. I think that from a baby, I was very active and my mom enrolled me in tennis, dance, piano and swimming.

Once I got to high school that all stopped. I was more interested in being with my friends and just enjoying my teenage years without a strict daily schedule. One thing that I did do was keep busy in school with the student council and graduation committee. During that time, I was also part of the St. Maarten Youth Council. That is how I won an essay and speech competition in Curaçao and was chosen with the representative of Curaçao to represent the Netherlands Antilles at the 35th UNESCO conference in Paris and 1st America's conference in Mexico. That was a great experience. I met young people from all over the world and together we worked on projects to better living, health and education for the youth around the world by involving them in the process. Here I noticed that politics was nothing for me.

My mom being a teacher, I grew up around that. I told her when I was three that I would never become a teacher. It's always meeting, meeting and meeting! I knew from then that I wanted to work in the medical field. When I was about nine, while watching TLC's ER, I realized that I wanted to be a surgeon, especially to work in the Emergency Room. Once when I was rushed to the Emergency Room, the surgeon on call, Dr. Mercelina, told me about the University of Maastricht. Hearing and seeing how great the university and the city were, and seeing the great surgeon who had gone there, I decided that after my MPC studies, I would choose to continue my studies there. That is how I ended up in Zuid-Limburg, Maestreech, nine years after meeting Dr. Mercelina and now having him as one of my professors. Weird isn't it? My mom calls it KARMA.

What St. Maarten district are you from? I spent the first 13 years of my life in Saunders and then moved to Weymouth Hill.

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

What is your favourite St. Maarten memory? Too many to mention, but all of them involve great friends, food and my family...and of course Carnival and Christmastime. I really did have some good times at school.

What was your biggest surprise when you left the island? My biggest surprise was how much I missed St. Maarten. Living there, we complain of having to do the same things all the time, but I missed them. Just being able to get into the car and go to the beach or by a friend. Not having to worry about when is my last train or bus. And oh how I miss the heat and the smell of the sea and salt pond!

What are your accomplishments? Academically, just being able to fulfil my dreams, of course! I just completed my first year of med school and am looking forward to many more years of doing what I've always dreamt of doing. But personally, just growing up, being able to handle things on my own without having my mother to help out (I'm mommy's baby). I see the difference from when I left St. Maarten to this summer and if I may say so myself, my mommy did a great job!

What are your goals? Just to do what makes me happy. Never give up because it gets too difficult and to do as much travelling and shopping as I can.

What makes you special? I'm just me. I do what makes me happy. That makes anyone special.

Where do you get your drive? From my mother. She has done so much for me and just seeing her proud of me makes me want to continue working hard. Just having a goal in life and wanting to do everything it takes to achieve it.

How long have you been gone? It's only been a year but it feels so much longer.

Do you have any advice for St. Maarten young people? Never forget what it is you want to achieve in life. Things might be hard, but the satisfaction you have after working hard to get where you want to get is worth it. Just remember where you came from. You might move away and things might seem better where you are, but the only way we can change things for the better is if we all just stop complaining and start doing our part. It isn't only up to the politicians.

Are you planning to return to St. Maarten in the future? Definitely!!! I can't wait to come back home. "I from here" ...hahaha. Like I just said, all of us have to play our part to make our sweet Sint Maarten the best.