[Music] [Applause]
when I was a kid of about eight years
when I was a kid of about eight years old my dad took my brother and me to a
old my dad took my brother and me to a
old my dad took my brother and me to a day of flying
day of flying
day of flying we went flying over Hill facin and I got
we went flying over Hill facin and I got
we went flying over Hill facin and I got to sit in the cockpit and I got to fly
to sit in the cockpit and I got to fly
to sit in the cockpit and I got to fly from pilot he gave me the control stick
from pilot he gave me the control stick
from pilot he gave me the control stick and I got to do some turns and when we
and I got to do some turns and when we
and I got to do some turns and when we were back on the ground I knew one thing
were back on the ground I knew one thing
were back on the ground I knew one thing for certain I was going to be a pilot
for certain I was going to be a pilot
for certain I was going to be a pilot and as I grew up that feeling never
and as I grew up that feeling never
and as I grew up that feeling never really changed so as soon as I turned
really changed so as soon as I turned
really changed so as soon as I turned seventeen in my last year of high school
seventeen in my last year of high school
seventeen in my last year of high school I applied for the Air Force and that was
I applied for the Air Force and that was
I applied for the Air Force and that was basically the start of a series of tests
basically the start of a series of tests
basically the start of a series of tests to see if I was fit for the job of a
to see if I was fit for the job of a
to see if I was fit for the job of a fighter pilot and I did pretty well I
fighter pilot and I did pretty well I
fighter pilot and I did pretty well I passed one test after another with
passed one test after another with
passed one test after another with flying colors and eventually I had made
flying colors and eventually I had made
flying colors and eventually I had made it all the way to the last round by
it all the way to the last round by
it all the way to the last round by summer and the last round consisted of
summer and the last round consisted of
summer and the last round consisted of actually flying so taking off and flying
actually flying so taking off and flying
actually flying so taking off and flying in a real aircraft and so that’s what we
in a real aircraft and so that’s what we
in a real aircraft and so that’s what we did we went up into the air I fly at a
did we went up into the air I fly at a
did we went up into the air I fly at a few maneuvers and after a while my
few maneuvers and after a while my
few maneuvers and after a while my instructor said to me ok I’m taking the
instructor said to me ok I’m taking the
instructor said to me ok I’m taking the control stick and we’re gonna do some
control stick and we’re gonna do some
control stick and we’re gonna do some barrel rolls some loopings g-forces and
barrel rolls some loopings g-forces and
barrel rolls some loopings g-forces and I was loving it because this was
I was loving it because this was
I was loving it because this was everything that I’ve been looking
everything that I’ve been looking
everything that I’ve been looking forward to all my life it was kind of
forward to all my life it was kind of
forward to all my life it was kind of becoming fulfilled but after five
becoming fulfilled but after five
becoming fulfilled but after five minutes or so I really had to grab for
minutes or so I really had to grab for
minutes or so I really had to grab for the pube bag um and that in itself was
the pube bag um and that in itself was
the pube bag um and that in itself was not a problem but I was feeling so sick
not a problem but I was feeling so sick
not a problem but I was feeling so sick that I couldn’t control the aircraft
that I couldn’t control the aircraft
that I couldn’t control the aircraft anymore so my instructor had to take the
anymore so my instructor had to take the
anymore so my instructor had to take the control stick and flies back to base a
control stick and flies back to base a
control stick and flies back to base a week later I got a call from the Air
week later I got a call from the Air
week later I got a call from the Air Force and they said we’re very sorry you
Force and they said we’re very sorry you
Force and they said we’re very sorry you did great so far but we can’t have sick
did great so far but we can’t have sick
did great so far but we can’t have sick pilots that can’t fly after they’d be
pilots that can’t fly after they’d be
pilots that can’t fly after they’d be g-forces so you know that’s it and of
g-forces so you know that’s it and of
g-forces so you know that’s it and of course that for me that was a big blow
course that for me that was a big blow
course that for me that was a big blow in my face because my childhood dream
in my face because my childhood dream
in my face because my childhood dream basically got shattered and there was
basically got shattered and there was
basically got shattered and there was another dilemma because it was the
another dilemma because it was the
another dilemma because it was the summer after high school had finished
summer after high school had finished
summer after high school had finished for me and I didn’t really have an
for me and I didn’t really have an
for me and I didn’t really have an alternative but I
alternative but I
alternative but I to look for one ID to pick a new study
to look for one ID to pick a new study
to look for one ID to pick a new study so the only thing that I really thought
so the only thing that I really thought
so the only thing that I really thought was cool as an aerospace geek because I
was cool as an aerospace geek because I
was cool as an aerospace geek because I mean I always loved aircraft was
mean I always loved aircraft was
mean I always loved aircraft was aerospace engineering at tu Delft the
aerospace engineering at tu Delft the
aerospace engineering at tu Delft the problem was though that I didn’t have
problem was though that I didn’t have
problem was though that I didn’t have visca a and as a matter of fact I wasn’t
visca a and as a matter of fact I wasn’t
visca a and as a matter of fact I wasn’t good at this canoe at all when I was in
good at this canoe at all when I was in
good at this canoe at all when I was in high school so you know I was thinking
high school so you know I was thinking
high school so you know I was thinking this was a bit of a dilemma for me and
this was a bit of a dilemma for me and
this was a bit of a dilemma for me and eventually I said to myself you know
eventually I said to myself you know
eventually I said to myself you know what I’m not gonna pick a study that I
what I’m not gonna pick a study that I
what I’m not gonna pick a study that I don’t like so I’m gonna take a year off
don’t like so I’m gonna take a year off
don’t like so I’m gonna take a year off to get away from it and try to get this
to get away from it and try to get this
to get away from it and try to get this viscolube a diploma and if I don’t I
viscolube a diploma and if I don’t I
viscolube a diploma and if I don’t I don’t know we’ll see and so that’s what
don’t know we’ll see and so that’s what
don’t know we’ll see and so that’s what I did for one year I work during the
I did for one year I work during the
I did for one year I work during the days and I spent my nights studying disc
days and I spent my nights studying disc
days and I spent my nights studying disc in the bay and I’m not saying it was
in the bay and I’m not saying it was
in the bay and I’m not saying it was always easy or fun for that matter by
always easy or fun for that matter by
always easy or fun for that matter by the way but at the end of that year I
the way but at the end of that year I
the way but at the end of that year I had my fisk in the bay diploma I got
had my fisk in the bay diploma I got
had my fisk in the bay diploma I got accepted into TU delft aerospace
accepted into TU delft aerospace
accepted into TU delft aerospace engineering program I learned a whole
engineering program I learned a whole
engineering program I learned a whole lot about discipline something that I
lot about discipline something that I
lot about discipline something that I noticed a lot of my fellow students at
noticed a lot of my fellow students at
noticed a lot of my fellow students at the university after that didn’t have at
the university after that didn’t have at
the university after that didn’t have at all and most of all I developed this
all and most of all I developed this
all and most of all I developed this sort of strange love for math and
sort of strange love for math and
sort of strange love for math and physics that was totally alien to me I
physics that was totally alien to me I
physics that was totally alien to me I didn’t have that during high school and
didn’t have that during high school and
didn’t have that during high school and that was really cool so that that gap
that was really cool so that that gap
that was really cool so that that gap year changed me that was my first gap
year changed me that was my first gap
year changed me that was my first gap year three years down the road I am now
year three years down the road I am now
year three years down the road I am now a member of the new on solar team and
a member of the new on solar team and
a member of the new on solar team and for those of you who don’t know us we’re
for those of you who don’t know us we’re
for those of you who don’t know us we’re a team of 16 Delft students that design
a team of 16 Delft students that design
a team of 16 Delft students that design and build their own solar-powered
and build their own solar-powered
and build their own solar-powered racecars and in October this year we
racecars and in October this year we
racecars and in October this year we will be in Australia to participate in
will be in Australia to participate in
will be in Australia to participate in the World Solar Challenge which is
the World Solar Challenge which is
the World Solar Challenge which is basically the largest solar racing
basically the largest solar racing
basically the largest solar racing competition on earth and will raise for
competition on earth and will raise for
competition on earth and will raise for three thousand kilometres all the way
three thousand kilometres all the way
three thousand kilometres all the way from North Australia to the south and
from North Australia to the south and
from North Australia to the south and will take on universities from all over
will take on universities from all over
will take on universities from all over the world but what’s interesting is that
the world but what’s interesting is that
the world but what’s interesting is that the Dutch University is tempted to be
the Dutch University is tempted to be
the Dutch University is tempted to be the best for the for the past many years
the best for the for the past many years
the best for the for the past many years in this competition that we have
in this competition that we have
in this competition that we have participated here on the picture you can
participated here on the picture you can
participated here on the picture you can see
see
see our car on the left you also see the car
our car on the left you also see the car
our car on the left you also see the car of Eindhoven and Fanta and our teams are
of Eindhoven and Fanta and our teams are
of Eindhoven and Fanta and our teams are always in the top five and we always do
always in the top five and we always do
always in the top five and we always do really good and that’s that’s a funny
really good and that’s that’s a funny
really good and that’s that’s a funny phenomenon and if you’re interested you
phenomenon and if you’re interested you
phenomenon and if you’re interested you can come and speak to me after after the
can come and speak to me after after the
can come and speak to me after after the break maybe and I’ll tell you why that
break maybe and I’ll tell you why that
break maybe and I’ll tell you why that is I think so what exactly do I do at
is I think so what exactly do I do at
is I think so what exactly do I do at the nuance solar team apart from getting
the nuance solar team apart from getting
the nuance solar team apart from getting a really cool trip to Australia which is
a really cool trip to Australia which is
a really cool trip to Australia which is awesome well of course there’s a lot of
awesome well of course there’s a lot of
awesome well of course there’s a lot of designing and building involved for me
designing and building involved for me
designing and building involved for me as a mechanical engineer I’m responsible
as a mechanical engineer I’m responsible
as a mechanical engineer I’m responsible for making sure that our car has a
for making sure that our car has a
for making sure that our car has a fraction of the rolling resistance of a
fraction of the rolling resistance of a
fraction of the rolling resistance of a normal car of your car really low our
normal car of your car really low our
normal car of your car really low our aerodynamics department is very good at
aerodynamics department is very good at
aerodynamics department is very good at what they do they make sure that our car
what they do they make sure that our car
what they do they make sure that our car basically looks so very sleek and has a
basically looks so very sleek and has a
basically looks so very sleek and has a very low aerodynamical resistance matter
very low aerodynamical resistance matter
very low aerodynamical resistance matter of fact let me put it this way we have
of fact let me put it this way we have
of fact let me put it this way we have the aerodynamical resistance of the side
the aerodynamical resistance of the side
the aerodynamical resistance of the side mirror of your car that’s nothing then
mirror of your car that’s nothing then
mirror of your car that’s nothing then there is the structures Department and
there is the structures Department and
there is the structures Department and they always get us the latest stuff in
they always get us the latest stuff in
they always get us the latest stuff in carbon and we have we have a very
carbon and we have we have a very
carbon and we have we have a very lightweight car because of them it all
lightweight car because of them it all
lightweight car because of them it all results in a car that weighs less than
results in a car that weighs less than
results in a car that weighs less than 150 kilogram and can go over a hundred
150 kilogram and can go over a hundred
150 kilogram and can go over a hundred thirty kilometres and that’s pretty
thirty kilometres and that’s pretty
thirty kilometres and that’s pretty amazing for a student built experimental
amazing for a student built experimental
amazing for a student built experimental vehicle so what else did we do when you
vehicle so what else did we do when you
vehicle so what else did we do when you got you know a fast solar car obviously
got you know a fast solar car obviously
got you know a fast solar car obviously you race it against toughest tippers so
you race it against toughest tippers so
you race it against toughest tippers so here we did a 100-meter sprint against
here we did a 100-meter sprint against
here we did a 100-meter sprint against tuffnut and needless to say that we lost
tuffnut and needless to say that we lost
tuffnut and needless to say that we lost because we have a vehicle that’s made
because we have a vehicle that’s made
because we have a vehicle that’s made for endurance and not for sprinting but
for endurance and not for sprinting but
for endurance and not for sprinting but we do a lot more of cool events like
we do a lot more of cool events like
we do a lot more of cool events like this and when you do that companies get
this and when you do that companies get
this and when you do that companies get interested in you and that’s another
interested in you and that’s another
interested in you and that’s another thing that’s really interesting when you
thing that’s really interesting when you
thing that’s really interesting when you are in a pseudonym like Laguna companies
are in a pseudonym like Laguna companies
are in a pseudonym like Laguna companies are interested in you and me as a young
are interested in you and me as a young
are interested in you and me as a young guy I just sit there and they they thank
guy I just sit there and they they thank
guy I just sit there and they they thank you very serious they want to hear your
you very serious they want to hear your
you very serious they want to hear your story and they want to cooperate with
story and they want to cooperate with
story and they want to cooperate with you and that’s a very unique opportunity
you and that’s a very unique opportunity
you and that’s a very unique opportunity that a lot of people don’t get when
that a lot of people don’t get when
that a lot of people don’t get when they’re in university and obviously
they’re in university and obviously
they’re in university and obviously everything basically comes down to
everything basically comes down to
everything basically comes down to winning the World Solar Challenge
winning the World Solar Challenge
winning the World Solar Challenge October this year make sure you follow
October this year make sure you follow
October this year make sure you follow us of course and hopefully things will
us of course and hopefully things will
us of course and hopefully things will look again like this like we won in 2015
look again like this like we won in 2015
look again like this like we won in 2015 hopefully we will win too
so why am I telling you all this well I
so why am I telling you all this well I wanted to show you through my story
wanted to show you through my story
wanted to show you through my story through my experience how a gap year can
through my experience how a gap year can
through my experience how a gap year can can change your direction like it did
can change your direction like it did
can change your direction like it did for me after high school and I also
for me after high school and I also
for me after high school and I also wanted to use my experience at nuna to
wanted to use my experience at nuna to
wanted to use my experience at nuna to give you an example of the cool things
give you an example of the cool things
give you an example of the cool things that you can do with a gap year there’s
that you can do with a gap year there’s
that you can do with a gap year there’s there’s many more things other than you
there’s many more things other than you
there’s many more things other than you know for example Hyperloop or anything
know for example Hyperloop or anything
know for example Hyperloop or anything and I hope that I can inspire you to
and I hope that I can inspire you to
and I hope that I can inspire you to look further than just rushing through
look further than just rushing through
look further than just rushing through college like so many people do and to
college like so many people do and to
college like so many people do and to take the time to stand still and develop
take the time to stand still and develop
take the time to stand still and develop yourself and that’s why I think every
yourself and that’s why I think every
yourself and that’s why I think every one of you should take a gap year thank
one of you should take a gap year thank
one of you should take a gap year thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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