By Otti Thomas
The Netherlands has more than 150,000 residents with roots in Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba. Thousands of these residents are successful in their own way. During 2018, Foundation Ocan, originating from the Consultative Body for Dutch Caribbean persons, will put one of these persons in the spotlight every week. In the spotlight this week is Rushanette Martis from Curaçao.
In her own words:
I received my first camera at 16 years old. I came from a family of women that loved posing, so I quickly got into taking pictures of them; also of friends. It was my task to shoot all the models; when at school, we had to create a Facebook-type website as an assignment. It has progressed slowly. Choosing to study photography never came up in my thoughts as I didn’t see myself working at a photo studio. It was a hobby of mine for which I could find everything I wanted on the internet. I did take a couple of photography courses later on, though. I studied human resource management at the UNA, but I noticed that I best liked the subjects communication and conversation techniques and mastered them well. After graduating, I decided to specialize in that field and I enrolled myself at a cross media communication programme in Rotterdam. I took photography back up seriously about a year ago when a friend asked me to take some pictures for her birthday. That photoshoot brought the feeling back completely. I started a company that specializes in photographing persons and models that have a dark complexion. Our most popular assignments are babies, birthdays and couple portraits. I do not earn a living with it. I combine it with another job. In the future, I hope to earn a living with my photography solely.
Inspiration
My parents have always given me creative freedom to develop myself. They never said no to my wild plans; provided they were positive ones. This shaped me into a person who is eager to learn new things. My mother is my source of inspiration. She began her studies at vocational school and worked her way up to the HBO level. She is an ultimate go-getter. As a woman, it is important that I develop myself in as many aspects as possible, making myself independent from any person or thing; unless I have to be dependent out of dire need or by choice.
Obstacles
My parents were advised by my primary school to enrol me into a special needs school. I had concentration problems, according to them. And indeed, I did need extra time to absorb things at times. I remember my mother coaching me for a number of days on how to draw a fish when I was in kindergarten. However, my parents didn’t consider a special school to be an option for me and so they did not accept the primary school’s advice. When it was time to go on to high school, my teacher gave me a HAVO advice, but my grades were of a MAVO standard. I therefore had to go onward to the MAVO, but my father lodged an objection. His objection was accepted with the provision that I prove myself at HAVO within the first school year. It wasn’t easy, but I made it. These moments were defining for me. My parents fought for me. When I was younger, I experienced this as pressure. I didn’t want to disappoint them. I wanted to be an exemplary child. Today, I don’t feel that pressure; I simply want to make them proud.
Helping
I volunteered at the Maneho di Adikshon foundation where I educated my peers on drug and alcohol use. I don’t consider myself as an example for others, but would like to say later on that my life was worth it. Now that I’ve completed my studies, I’d like to combine the expansion of my company with working as a head-hunter, going back to my origins that I still like. As a head-hunter, you place persons where they can best utilize their talents; that willingness to help others was instilled in me at home.
Tip
I put too much on my plate occasionally. On Curaçao, I worked at Papagayo Resort, did the promotional work for United Distributors, and danced six years with Kombinashon Moderno. I also contributed for Amigoe Express, participated in the program called Videozoo for a short season and owned a YouTube video channel about beauty and fashion with girlfriends. Alongside my studies in the Netherlands, I danced and worked but then felt the need to rest at a certain point. I stopped as a contributor for Amigoe Express and I stopped dancing. Therefore, my tip is that you should set priorities when you are an ambitious person.
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