Faaizah Halil

About Faaizah

My name is Faaizah Halil and I am currently in my third year of the History Bachelor’s programme. I was born and raised in Singapore, and my family has roots in Indonesia and Pakistan which has influenced my historical context significantly. Apart from my studies, I am part of the Groningen Feminist Network which is a student-led, queer, intersectional association in the city that organizes events for the community. When I am not writing assignments, I hang out with my friends, cook, read and write. I have recently been getting into replicating dishes from back home, with a little more success each time.

Why History?

I chose history because it informs everything that we know as the present. People, objects, even ideas have a journey through time and an origin, and I find that endlessly fascinating. I think history also feeds the imagination for building a more just and inclusive society. Therefore, I wanted to make sure that I enrolled in a programme that would do justice to this subject in a globalized context. That was when I found the international track for History at the UG. I pored over the website and looked at other student testimonials (much like the one you are reading right now) and that really helped me to solidify my decision.

Why Groningen?

Based on my interest in History, I was recommended by a family friend to study in the Netherlands. It was honestly a leap-of-faith decision at the time as I did not know anyone here, but I knew it was a leap worth taking for my overall development. I picked the University of Groningen because it checked all the boxes for the programma I wanted and is international-friendly.

Its smaller and quiet location in the north makes it easier to adjust to a new place and culture. Falling off your bike here would be less embarrassing than it would be in Amsterdam. At the same time, Groningen has a vibrant student life as it has a plethora of student associations and ongoing events throughout the year, so you would be spoiled for choice!

Future

I have yet to find an area that I wish to specialize in, but I will say I have been thoroughly enjoying my classes thus far. Some fields that have piqued my interest would have to be Socio-economic history (Year 1) and Political history (Year 2). I would also love to delve into region-specific historiography, more so Southeast Asia.

Golden Tip

If you are reading this, you are already doing the right research. All I can say is to reach out if you have any further questions!