Yasemin Hyusein expanded her horizon with the Customs and Excise programme
In ‘Stream of consciousness’, we give the floor to someone from the UAntwerp community. Today it is Yasemin Hyusein’s turn. Hyusein has just finished her final exam period and passed her Advanced Master in Tax Law with a specialisation in Customs and Excise with flying colours. In September, she’ll start working as a tax lawyer.
What is your motto?
Try a bit of everything. Even ‘bad’ experiences are enriching. Sometimes you go through things that are less fun, but afterwards you’re glad they happened. It’s also those experiences that make us who we are.
How old do you feel?
Sometimes I feel old, sometimes very young. I find it difficult to link characteristics to age anyway, and I’m also particularly bad at guessing ages. I once thought someone was in their mid-thirties, while they were actually over fifty.
What does the perfect Sunday morning look like for you?
An elaborate breakfast with my family.
What is your favourite memory of your student days?
My Erasmus Belgica during the COVID pandemic. I studied in Louvain-la-Neuve for a year. It wasn’t a traditional Erasmus experience due to the pandemic, but I had a wonderful room and great flatmates from all over the world. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
What would you like to study next?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an integral part of our lives, so a programme revolving around AI and data would certainly interest me.
What does UAntwerp still mean for you today?
The University of Antwerp has a special place in my heart. Not only did I learn a lot there, but I also got various opportunities and got to meet inspiring people. As a concrete example, the Advanced Master in Customs and Excise brought me into contact with both professionals in the private sector and experts from the customs administration. Their experience and insights enriched my view of the world.
How did your environment react to your career choice?
Proud, mostly. My parents gave up a lot to provide good education opportunities to my brother and me. Their support and trust meant a lot to me. It’s thanks to them that I am where I am today; I’m very grateful for that.
Try a bit of everything. Even ‘bad’ experiences are enriching.
How does your job give you satisfaction?
I like being able to solve complex problems. It’s another level of satisfaction when you know something is difficult, but stick with it and come up with a great solution in the end.
If you could change your profession for a day, what would you want to do?
An exciting job, for example being a detective at customs or the police. It seems like a job where no two days are the same, but of course there’s also a lot of risk involved. That’s why I’m saying I’d like to experience it for one day.
City or countryside?
The tranquillity of the countryside.
Cycling or going for a walk?
Cycling is my favourite mode of transport, but when it comes to leisure, I prefer walking.
Fiction or non-fiction?
Lately, mostly non-fiction, such as Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body by Daniel Goleman & Richard J. Davidson. The book is quite scholarly, but also enlightening.
Working from home or at the office?
Preferably at the office, but sometimes working from home can be more practical.