Another 'Sharing Stories' post from one of our former students at Amsterdam International Community School. This week, it's Hannah Heideveld, a Master's student and competitive rower for the US National women's team.

“… it is great to have a plan, but plans change! Being adaptable and trusting the process goes a long way!!”

I joined the AICS in MYP2 in 2014, and was there for six years until DP2, graduating in 2020. 

After I graduated I took a few months to sit out the COVID pandemic, I was taking online classes and rowing in Amsterdam. In January I had a delayed start at Rutgers University, where I rowed and studied public health. For three years I was part of a division I rowing team, competing against other universities and traveling during the spring. 

In 2021, I tried out for the Dutch national team and did not make a boat. I was very disappointed. In 2022, I made the Under-23 US team, racing in the women’s 8, and won gold at the world championships in Varese, Italy. I so enjoyed my experience I decided to stick with the US team, and a year later won gold in the U23 women’s 8 again in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. 

In 2023-2024 I joined a high-performance team in upstate New York, called ARION. I found myself training in different training locations in the U.S. over the span of four months, seeking warmer climates and rowable water when the water was frozen in upstate New York. The whole year was an accumulation of growth and learning, including navigating new situations and unexpected obstacles. The ultimate goal was to make the Olympics but being a younger athlete in an endurance sport, I knew it was going to be a stretch. I ended up being the runner-up at Olympic Trials in the women’s pair.

Now I am in my fourth and final year at Rutgers University, pursuing a Public Health Master’s degree in Epidemiology. My applied work experience was on mental health in elite female endurance athletes, focusing on nutrition and relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S). 

When I think of the AICS, I think of the group projects and presentations. I enjoyed collaborating, talking, and brainstorming at school. Connecting with other students from different countries and cultures is an experience I am still grateful for that prepared me well for studying abroad in the U.S. and traveling for rowing. I remember the field trips in MYP, and being able to connect more with my friends there. I truly think the teachers were passionate and made school more enjoyable for students. I felt like I could speak freely, make mistakes, and ask questions. 

My advice to current students is to set a long-term goal and work hard day by day. I have found success when I have a fulfilling goal that is far away, and put in the work to achieve short-term goals. Additionally, I have learned that it is great to have a plan, but plans change! Being adaptable and trusting the process goes a long way!!