My name is Olivier...
...and I work as a Host at X. I’m currently finishing up my Master thesis in Aerospace Engineering. As a means of distraction I have picked up saxophone lessons for the first time with our teacher Wim. I had never played saxophone before, but I do have a little experience playing guitar. I also like to sing and have taken singing lessons from Marvin in Q1, which honestly felt a lot scarier than taking up the saxophone. I have learned a lot in both classes and intend to show that during the Presentation Nights.
I’m excited...
...to be playing a bossa nova classic: The Girl from Ipanema by Antônio Carlos Jobim. I’ve invited some friends and of course all my fellow Hosts, which is making me a little nervous as I don’t have experience performing on stage. The reason I’m taking the stage, is to have fun with something outside of my comfort zone. It’s scary, but I think (or rather, I hope) it’ll be a fulfilling experience. I think what makes the Presentation Nights at X so much fun, is that the bar feels relatively low.
There’s a lot of people...
....here at TU Delft who pick up a new art, be it dancing or music or something else. It always looks like showcasing what you have learned to a crowd without expectations, a crowd that knows that a lot of these performers have taken up something new, that must feel very safe and liberating. I hope you’ll be that crowd for me!
For the coming weeks...
...I’ll be trying to practice as much as I can next to writing my thesis. I know there are a lot of people who struggle with their thesis, it can all be a bit daunting and stressful at times. What helped for me was to try and find some distraction when it was getting too much. For me, that was in learning to play an instrument.
