Phoebe Dusil (20) – Computer Science

Phoebe Dusil (main photo) may well be the student who joined a student team the earliest. Even before officially starting her Computer Science degree, a friend already studying at TU/e persuaded her to join Team IGNITE, and succeeded. She immediately jumped into the light project for GLOW, Eindhoven’s light art festival.

“I was super busy with it during the first quartile, but it was totally worth it. I learned how to successfully complete a project, and socially it gave me a boost.” She also now feels more confident talking to strangers, after handling meetings with project partners.

What makes TU/e special, she says, is the freedom to shape your studies. In her first year, she took full advantage by enrolling in elective courses. “I picked Tanja Lange’s course on cryptology. She’s actually the reason I came to TU/e—I was already following her work before I even started studying. It’s the best course I’ve taken so far.”

To follow more of De Lange’s courses, she’ll need to stay in Eindhoven for the Master's in Cryptology. But she doesn’t mind. “I really like it here. There’s a very open community.” She found a house in Geldrop, where she lives with her girlfriend. “It’s a bit of a bike ride, but I love that. It gives me energy. And it’s so quiet and green out there.” A great place to unwind after the intensity of campus life.

Her advice for first-years? “Make sure you meet lots of people, especially outside your own program.”

Lucas van Zuijdam (20) - Computer Science

After taking a gap year and traveling the world, Lucas van Zuijdam started studying Computer Science at TU/e. The fact that he’d had a break showed, when he failed the entrance test of Calculus — the notoriously tough basic math course. “In week eight I got a second chance, and I scored a ten. But it was a wake-up call. I realized I really had to get to work.”

University life was very different from high school, especially the pace. “That took some getting used to.” The third quarter was the most intense, with weekly tests and assignments, and one less week of classes due to a revised schedule following a cyberattack on the university earlier in the year.

During that time, Lucas barely had time for a social life, despite the network he had built through student association GEWIS. He’s also part of a First Year Committee—aimed at helping freshmen find their way in Eindhoven student life. That involvement, along with a growing group of friends, is making it harder to keep commuting between Eindhoven and Maastricht, where he bought an apartment with some friends. “So now I’m looking for a place in Eindhoven. I actually have a viewing scheduled later today.”

A successful first year? According to Lucas, absolutely. “If I had known how great university life would be, I might not have taken a gap year at all.”

Helia Ashrafian (21) - Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

The biggest lesson Helia Ashrafian learned during her first year of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry? To stop procrastinating. In order to help herself, she set limits on her social media use and stopped watching movies and series altogether. “I haven’t watched television in months.” It helps keep her studies manageable. Still, she makes time for friends, her relationship, and her part-time job. “So I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything socially.”

As an introvert, she didn’t expect to make friends so easily. But the university’s Intro week played a big part in doing to. She also met her current housemates there. “Pushing myself to be social during Intro really paid off.”

Living on her own took some adjusting. “It can be tough, but you develop a close connection with your housemates. And I’ve learned not to depend on my parents so much anymore. Still, cooking for yourself every day is a lot of work.” Her go-to solution? Pre-made meals from the grocery store around the corner.

As the academic year wraps up, she’s still unsure whether she’ll meet the BSA (binding study advice) requirement—her studies have been challenging. “But if you put in the effort, it actually becomes fun. It becomes the good kind of challenging.”

Her final takeaway? “It’s all about trial and error. Just fuck around and find out—excuse my language, but it’s true. Just go for it and see where it gets you.”

Antonio Wicherek (19) - Computer Science

After just one year at TU/e, Antonio has already developed his own game with student team Game Dev, narrowly avoided a burnout, and had the police shut down a party at his house. “A lot has happened this year,” he says, “but it has been a good year. I’ve met so many people and learned what it’s like to live on my own—and definitely feel good about that.”

That doesn’t mean it was all easy. He admits the Dutch weather—especially the wind—gets to him. “The wind is the worst. You can’t move forward on your bike. If you’re already having a bad day, the wind just finishes you off.” And the housing situation isn’t helping either. While he was lucky to find a place for his first year, his rental contract is about to end, and he hasn’t found a new place yet.

Luckily, his studies are going well. A big reason for that, he says, is that he found the right balance. “It’s easy to get consumed by the books, but I’ve realized how important it is to take care of yourself.”
In the third quarter, things almost got too overwhelming. He decided to take a break and went back home to Poland for a while. “When I came back, I was able to pull myself out of it and get back on top of my game.”

The best students he sees around him aren’t just focused on studying. “They also make time for exercise, friends, and themselves. That’s how you do it. Cook something nice for yourself, meet new people, go outside and get some fresh air. Don’t forget to actually live.”

Ellen-Fay de Coninck (19) – Applied physics 

Ellen-Fay expected Applied Physics to be a tough program, but so far, it's been manageable. “During the quartile, I go to required classes and work on projects, but otherwise I pretty much do what I want. It’s only when exam week approaches that I start stressing out.”
Following the advice of older students, she doesn’t try to review all the lessons when studying for exams. Instead, she focuses on past exams—and it’s working, because she’s passing her courses.

She still finds time for other passions, like climbing with the Eindhoven Student Alpine Club (ESAC) and serving on two committees for study association Van der Waals.

Most of her life takes place on campus, where nearly all her training sessions and study association events are held. “I never have to worry about catching the last train or bus.” She lives in student housing in Haven. “I got really lucky. I even have a dishwasher—who has that as a student?”
On weekends, she heads back home to Amstelveen, where she finally feels like she can truly relax. “I don’t have to take care of everything myself there. I feel less pressure to always be doing something.”

It’s been a hectic year—not so much because of her studies, but because of everything else. “The only hard part is when everything piles up at once—a deadline, committee work, and exam prep all at the same time. That third quarter was the hardest, but I still managed to pass everything.”

When it comes to activities, Ellen-Fay says you’ll never be bored on campus. “There’s so much going on. And don’t forget your study association’s Thursday night drink.”

A version of this article appeared earlier in Cursor's Intro Magazine. View the full magazine here.

This article is translated with AI-assisted translation and then reviewed by an editor.