Danielle Boudville and Rik van Tilborg, former GESS classmates whose friendship blossomed into a serious relationship, share their GESS story with us. Danielle’s career in epidemiology and Rik’s rise in the chemical industry reflect the unique paths shaped by their GESS experience. Their bond, formed through shared classes and school trips, has endured through the years. Now a successful couple, they look back on how GESS shaped both their careers and personal lives, showing how the school fosters not only academic growth but lifelong connections.
When did you study at GESS, and which graduation year were you in?
Danielle – I started at GESS in 2009! I skipped a year when I transferred schools, so I was placed with the graduating class of 2012. By Grade 11, I was still so clueless about my future, and I ended up doing 5 Higher Levels (HLs) because I couldn’t decide. Feeling quite overwhelmed and all over the place back then, I repeated Grade 11, ending up graduating with the class of 2013 😊
Rik – I joined GESS in Grade 11 back in 2011 and graduated in 2013. I transferred from the International School of Kuala Lumpur, and I had a choice between GESS and OFS. I chose GESS because I loved the ambience of the former campus.
What did you both do after graduating from GESS? Did you immediately enrol in university or did you first explore other paths?
Danielle – Gap year!! I did some part-time jobs like waitressing for a few months, saved up, then travelled around for a bit and visited friends! After my gap year, I went on to study Biochemistry at the University of Sydney. While I had a wonderful time there, I realised I really enjoyed and thrived more in a cosy small classroom environment instead of big lecture halls. I ended up transferring my credits over to University College Roosevelt (Utrecht University) in the tiny town of Middelburg in the Netherlands. I completed my Bachelor of Science specialising in Mathematics and Biomedical Sciences there and went on to complete a Master of Epidemiology at the University of Antwerp.
Rik – When graduation was approaching, I knew I wanted to study but had no idea what to choose. I had two subjects at school which I was most interested in which were Economics and Chemistry. Ms Scrivener was my Chemistry teacher and said I had a knack for it, but I ended up starting an international business and diving into management back in the Netherlands. After a year and a half, I realised that I was in the wrong programme and that I should have listened to Ms Scrivener – not too late! I changed to studying Chemistry in 2015 and graduated with my Bachelor’s in 2020.
Could you share a bit about your current careers? What do you enjoy most about your work?
Danielle – I currently work as an epidemiologist in the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands. I’m part of the advisory board for the regional AMR surveillance network CAESAR (Central Asian and European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance), which is a collaboration between the RIVM, the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and participating countries.
There are so many aspects of the job that I enjoy. I love the fact that everyone I work with cares about what they do, and we are all motivated to make real improvements in our field. I love that we get to travel so frequently and to so many different places! I love being able to work in such a multi-cultural environment. I like to work on different things, and this job allows me that variety: from analysing and interpreting data, to organising and facilitating national and multi-country workshops, and providing onsite technical support to the national AMR surveillance networks. Being on the advisory board also means we play a role in the future directions we want CAESAR to take, which can be very exciting! On top of that, I’m also doing a second Master’s Degree (part-time) in Statistics and Data Science at Hasselt University. I’m thoroughly enjoying this extended learning, which also really helps me with my job.
Rik – After graduating from university, I started working at the company where I did my graduation internship. It’s a chemical laboratory called SGS which focuses on quality assurance for all petrochemical products moving through Rotterdam’s harbour. I started as a chemical analyst doing routine experiments on samples that were being brought in and worked my way up to become the technical developer, focusing on the maintenance of all experimental apparatus that we have as well as quality of the analysis. As of last month, I’ve been promoted to a management position, and am in the process of taking over from my predecessor.
What I enjoy most about my work is the fact that I get hands-on, and apply everything I learned in school directly into what I do, and that my ideas are put to practice to see the way it positively impacts my organisation. I also really like the fact that I work in an international company with people from all different backgrounds working in unity. It reminds me a lot of my days as an expat and it brings about a great group of amazing colleagues.
Looking back, were there any specific teachers, mentors or experiences at GESS, significantly influencing your choice of academic or career pursuits?
Danielle – That’s very hard to answer. Every single teacher at GESS played such a huge role for me, not always because of what they taught, but because they cared about us. Since I just visited Ms Scrivener, I’ll use her as an example: She was my Chem HL teacher, and due to some curriculum changes, we just didn’t have enough time to cover all the material. Instead of making us cram everything in, she gave the HL students the option to stay overtime. She used her own time to help us study and would always come with some cookies or tea. She would also “read the room” – when we were too tired or stressed, she’d switch things up and lighten the mood which was so helpful! Or Frau Verry, who made learning German so fun. Her tip: If you want to learn the language, turn on shows in that language and try to watch without subtitles. I used that tactic when I was trying to learn Dutch! It was actually my teachers who suggested I repeat Grade 11. My grades were fine but mentally I was really about to burst with stress and uncertainty. It was the best thing they could have suggested for me. That extra year made all the difference.
Rik – Ms Scrivener was a huge influence on my choice to change studies, but all the teachers I came into contact with at GESS have had a massive and lasting influence on me as a person. I also had a unique experience where I was the only student taking Dutch in my Grade 12 with Mrs Lub, so each lesson was just the two of us. Something I really appreciated about all the teachers was that they each had their own way of making learning a fun experience. Be that through jokes and interactive classes, or games being incorporated into curriculum, each teacher was there to try and get us to be the best version of ourselves. Always ready with helpful advice but never overbearing or pushy.
What was your favourite memory of GESS while you were studying in Singapore?
Danielle – My indecisiveness really shows (haha). I can’t just pick one memory! I made wonderful friends, and have so many beautiful memories. Of course, not every day was all sunshine and rainbows, but overall there were so many positives that GESS had to offer. For example, I really loved our trip to India! We went to Kerala to build a well for a local community, and it was a great learning experience. I also have fond memories of our bonding days! Once, we were split into teams and sent on a quest through Singapore. We had to go to different locations where we got a task, had to take photo proof, then given the next location to head to!
Rik – We used to go for lunch at the Swiss Club near the former campus, always nice to have a quiet lunch where it was easier to talk to each other compared to the lively canteen. Also, I really enjoyed the school trips we had – I went to Bintan twice which was something I really enjoyed. Getting away from the classroom and doing community service with my classmates was a lot of fun. Also, while at GESS, I was fortunate enough to be on a killer volleyball team!!! We got to use the gym at the Swiss Club for our practices and it was amazing being part of such a successful squad.
How did you both meet at GESS? Were you friends or did you not interact much before becoming a couple? How did your experiences at GESS shape your friendship and eventually your relationship?
Danielle – A lucky byproduct of my repeating a grade! Rik moved from KL and joined Grade 11 when I repeated. I think we became good friends really quickly. There was a party around the start of the school year, and I think almost everyone from our grade attended. My first memory of really getting to know him was when everyone was walking to the pool, and I wanted to get something from home (near the party), so he accompanied me. We also had a lot of classes together, and initially, we often sat together! We were eventually separated in every class because when we sat together, we’d distract each another.
Rik – We became friends very fast and were what I think our teachers would describe as a “menace” in the classroom. We’d spend most of the class talking and annoying each another, to the point we got separated by teachers. I was always the one to blame because Dani has such a sweet and innocent personality, which is totally an act. We also hung out in the music room during lunch where she would play the piano – something I found very impressive because I was totally musically inept. If not for GESS, we would have never met and ended up where we are today as a couple – so I’m very thankful for all the experiences thanks to GESS!
How did GESS shape or help your academic and personal development? What have you learned from GESS that you still carry with you?
Danielle – GESS was filled with people who not only valued the importance of quality education, but also the importance of being a good person. I learned a lot about empathy, striving to be the best version of oneself, being open-minded, being open to being challenged and growing from it, and so much more while studying at GESS. It also shaped my ability to look at things from multiple perspectives and to be more understanding of others. To this day, I find it important, even in day-to-day things. Such as coming across a so-called rude driver – instead of being upset, it may change how it affects your mood if you consider it may not be intentional, or perhaps the person is having a bad day – any of us could have been the same sometime too!
Rik – Academically speaking, GESS was where I learned that school can also be fun. I was never a “good” student and by no means was I when I graduated. But while I was at GESS, I did start applying myself more to studying and being surrounded by a grade full of people who had school as a priority really gave me the push I needed. Everyone at GESS tried to make the best of every day and that positive energy and the mentality to look for a bright side has stayed with me to this day.
Is there any piece of advice or experience you would like to share with our current students?
Danielle – Take your time! The only person you should ever compare and compete with is yourself. Everyone has their own path. Make choices that bring joy to your life! It makes such a difference when you try to find the positives in the everyday. And remember that you’re going to dedicate many hours of your life to the job that you do, so it really helps if you do something you’re passionate about! That way, you’re not just working every day… you’re pursuing a passion every day!
Rik – One piece of advice I would give is that it’s ok not to know what you want to do! Do what makes you happy and keep challenging yourself. I may only be thirty but I really believe that life is too short to spend doing things you don’t enjoy! And when in doubt ask for help!!!
