Building My Own Curriculum Through Books
- Yasmin
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
How it all began...
When I moved to the lively city of Amsterdam as an international student, I expected my learning to happen mainly in lecture halls at VU Amsterdam. And of course, it does. But some of the most meaningful learning has happened somewhere else entirely: on my bed after long days on campus, in quiet corners of various university buildings I’ve gradually discovered , and in small cafés where I pretend to be productive but end up completely absorbed in a novel. Much of the expected learning started with the books I began reading during those quiet moments.
How I started organising my reading
At some point, I started organising my reading around themes that genuinely excited me. Living in such an international environment made me more curious about identity, belonging, and female voices across cultures. One month I might read novels by women from different countries: Yael van der Wouden's ‘The Safekeep’ or Mary Jean Chan's ‘Flèche’; another month I explore coming-of-age memoirs like Ocean Vuong's ‘On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous’, where identity and belonging are felt on every page.
To explore these themes, I usually find myself starting with fiction. Stories make perspectives and opinions feel alive. They make Amsterdam’s rainy afternoons feel inspiring. They turn long metro rides into moments of reflection. Non-fiction follows naturally, helping me understand the questions that fiction brings up in the first place. Together, they form a kind of self-made curriculum: one that runs parallel to my degree.
Why VU Amsterdam makes this easy
This kind of self-directed learning feels incredibly natural at VU Amsterdam. What I love most about studying here is that the environment encourages curiosity beyond your courses. After lectures, I often stay in the library a little longer, not just for assignments, but for my own reading. There is something empowering about choosing what you want to learn, without deadlines or expectations attached.
From private notes to a small community
Over time, this reading habit also made me want to share my thoughts with others. Eventually, I started sharing short reviews and reflections on Goodreads and on a dedicated Instagram page with my friend. What began as notes in my phone slowly turned into a small book page. To my surprise, other people started engaging. They recommended books, shared their own experiences, and sometimes told me that a book I posted ended up catching their interest.
Books as a way to feel at home
As an international student, building your own routines can make a new city feel like home. For me, creating this personal reading curriculum became exactly that: grounding and unexpectedly personal.
VU Amsterdam teaches me academically. Amsterdam inspires me culturally. But books? They bring everything together.
What are you reading right now? Drop a recommendation in the comments, I'd love to add it to my list!
📚 Books from this post
Book Title | Book Edition I've Read | Ratings & Key Words |
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden |  | ★★★★★ identity women's voices Netherlands |
Flèche by Mary Jean Chan |  | ★★★★★ poetry women's voices belonging |
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong |  | ★★★★★ coming of age belonging |
📚 Recommended Reads From My Shelf
Book Title | Book Edition I've Read | Ratings & Key Words |
Mythos by Stephen Fry |  | ★★★★★ non-fiction accessible |
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors |  | ★★★★½ women's voices belonging fiction |
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka |  | ★★★★ identity fiction |
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad |  | ★★★★★ non-fiction identity |
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