I grew up in a family that has worked in education. Both my father and mother, and also my stepfather and stepmother, have various jobs in education. Even my younger sister ended up working as an elementary schoolteacher. From the moment my parents got divorced, I knew for sure I wanted to study law. After high school, I first went to college and then on to a university to study law. After I got both my degrees, I wanted to work for the court. Therefore, I applied for a job with the Amsterdam court as a judicial clerk. I think that was the moment I first came into contact with God. I did not realize it then, but I do now.
During the final round of my application, I had to pass an assessment. While doing the assessment I realized that being a judicial clerk was not the right job for me and that I did not want to take this direction. Panic-stricken, I called a friend of mine. She told me about a job opening at the Amsterdam higher vocational college for studying law. A lecturer was needed.
The same night I wrote an application letter, and a week later I had an interview. Immediately after my interview, while waiting by the elevator, I was called back and told I was hired. I had graduated in July 2007 and in August of the same year I opened the door of my first classroom to teach second-year students all about criminal law. I already told you that I had not accepted God in my life or even knew him, but the job He gave me has been and still is my dream job for eleven years now. Although I transferred to the management team of this college four years ago, teaching is still my biggest passion. I love teaching young people things about themselves, watching them grow, seeing them become sensible professionals and most of all making a difference with them. During the eleven years that I have worked in this college, the students have voted me “teacher of the year” four times.
Students always tell me in their feedback that I notice them, that they feel safe in the classroom, and that they can dare to learn. I am also a study coach and stay in contact with many students even after their graduation. I prefer nothing better than thinking along with and supporting young people who are in difficult situations. And in those coaching sessions I can show them Jesus. I regularly have the opportunity to pray with them and to talk about faith. Pregnant students call me and want to discuss whether they should have an abortion or not. When students are ill or depressed, I use my life experience to help them; and with my faith I can point to heavenly things.
With loving persuasion God has brought me into the congregation of this church. For the past year and a half, I have been the youth leader of the Dutch field, together with Brother Hans Rekker. I am so grateful to God, not only because He gave me my dream job years ago, but also because I can now exercise my love for youth work in relation to God with so much passion in this congregation.
About a month and a half ago, I had a nervous breakdown. But in the process of healing, God gave me the solution to my burnout. I then dared to stop being part of the management team and to go back to the classroom—that’s where God wants me.
Now I have more time for Him, for youth work, and for my dream job. God is good!
by Diana Beets
