"Before I begin explaining the school, the system we use, and the rules, how about we start with introductions?" Yeshaya suggested, flashing a grin.
"Why don't you go first, teach?" a guy called out from the back.
"Ah, good idea! I like that!" Yeshaya's enthusiasm was palpable. He stood up straight, clasping his hands together. "Alright, my name is Yeshaya Badila. I'm 29 years old, born and raised in Amsterdam. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my lovely wife, reading books on history and theology, and playing basketball. It's a pleasure to meet all of you! Now, who's next?"
The room was silent. No one volunteered, so Yeshaya sighed dramatically. "Alright, let's spice things up a bit. Can you all stand up and push the tables and chairs to the side?"
We followed his instructions, shifting the furniture to make space.
"In that case," Yeshaya said, "I'll pick someone at random by throwing this basketball!"
With a grin, he tossed the ball toward me with surprising force. Instinctively, I caught it with ease, causing a few surprised gasps to ripple through the class.
"Nice catch!" Yeshaya chuckled. "Your turn!"
I hesitated, holding the ball a little awkwardly. "Um, okay." I took a breath and stood tall. "My name is Mandane Esfahani, and I'm 18 years old."
Yeshaya raised an eyebrow. "What's your background? You've got an exotic name, Mandane."
"Greek and Iranian," I replied briefly.
"Interesting! And what are your hobbies, Miss Greco-Persian?"
I shrugged slightly. "I don't really have any hobbies."
"Really?" Yeshaya leaned forward, clearly surprised. "Then, what do you do with your spare time?"
"Help my mom with chores. Or I sleep," I said flatly.
"Wow," Yeshaya looked genuinely shocked. "I've never met someone without any interests. What about dislikes? You must have something you don't like."
I blinked. No one had ever asked me that before. Most people just gave up on me once they realized I didn't have anything I was passionate about.
"I don't like exerting myself beyond the minimum. And I don't like when people are too demanding of me."
Yeshaya let out a laugh. "Guess you didn't enjoy me throwing the ball at you at full speed, huh?"
"No, I definitely didn't," I said with a straight face.
"Alright, pass the ball to the next person!" he said, eager to keep things moving.
I threw the ball to the girl on my left. She caught it with a smile.
"Hey everyone, Aisha El-Hadi here, 17 years old. Don't let my name fool you, I'm more 'code' than 'princess.' I love creating websites and apps, but fashion is another passion of mine. On weekends, you'll probably find me in the kitchen with my mom, learning to perfect the best Moroccan tagine this side of the Sahara. And just a heads up— I like my food spicy!"
Aisha passed the ball to the next person—a Dutch girl named Sanne.
"Hey there! Sanne de Vries here, 18. The stage is my game (well, almost). I'm an aspiring actress, but sometimes, the spotlight makes me want to hide. Thankfully, music calms my nerves. I play the violin, and trust me, it's a lot less intimidating than performing in front of an audience. When I'm not rehearsing, you might find me volunteering at a retirement home, listening to their amazing stories."
Sanne passed the ball to Naomi, a Surinamese girl.
"Hey everyone, Naomi Pieters here! I'm 17 years old and I'm all about pushing my limits on the track. Running is my therapy, and I'm hoping to sprint toward the Olympics one day. When I'm not training, I channel my energy into art. You might see some of my animal sketches around. Oh, and I volunteer at the shelter with Youssef! Together, we make sure those furry friends feel loved."
Naomi threw the ball to Youssef, who blushed a little as he caught it.
"Did you really have to tell them I volunteer at the shelter?" he muttered, embarrassed.
"You don't want people to know you're a softie?" Naomi teased.
"Shut up!" Youssef shot back, a little flustered. "I'm Youssef Aït Oussakour, 17. My parents are from Morocco, but I was born and raised here. I'm obsessed with parkour, always looking for the next wall to conquer."
Youssef threw the ball at Thijs, a Dutch guy.
"Hey everyone, Thijs van der Hout here. 18 years old, born and bred in Amsterdam. History's my jam, so you might catch me buried in a book sometimes. When I'm not learning about the past, I'm either on the soccer field or trying to fix something that probably shouldn't be fixed."
The class chuckled at his last remark. Thijs tossed the ball to Omar, another Dutch guy.
"Yo, wassup! Omar Hassan here. I'm 17, originally from Somalia, but I grew up in Amsterdam. I'm all about slam poetry and expressing myself through words. On weekends, you'll probably find me slinging samosas at my parents' restaurant. So, don't hesitate to come by—best restaurant in town!"
"Oh, I'll have to visit sometime with my wife!" Yeshaya added with enthusiasm.
"Please do!" Omar grinned. He threw the ball to Pieter, another Dutch guy.
"Hi everyone, Pieter de Jong here. 17 years old. Yeah, I know, super original name, right? I'm not the most athletic guy, but I love baking pastries. Just don't ask me to calculate the perfect batch of cookies—math is my enemy. When I'm not battling virtual dragons, I love visiting my grandma and listening to her stories."
Pieter passed the ball to Kwame, a dark-skinned guy.
"What's up, peeps! Kwame Adu's the name, 18. Ghana in my blood, Netherlands in my heart. I'm all about creating sick beats and getting down on the dance floor. Afrobeats are my jam, but I'm always open to learning new rhythms. Oh, and I'm a language nerd—catch me trying to impress you with my French sometime!"
Kwame threw the ball at Lucas, a Dutch guy.
"Hey everyone, Lucas Jansen here, 18. I'm a photography enthusiast, always on the lookout for the perfect shot, whether it's capturing a breathtaking landscape or documenting a protest. I'm also passionate about protecting the planet, so let's keep this campus (and the world) beautiful, alright?"
Lucas passed the ball to Jordy, a Surinamese guy.
"Yo, what's up? Jordy Bakker here. 17 years old. My family's from Suriname, but I consider myself a true Amsterdammer. Music is my life—singing, strumming my guitar, you name it. I also love a good debate about the world's issues. Don't be shy—let's challenge each other!"
Jordy threw the ball to Daan, a Dutch guy.
"Hi, I'm Daan van Leeuwen. 18 years old, a bit quiet at first, but get me talking about fantasy worlds, and I won't shut up. Board games are my thing—strategizing is where I shine. I also volunteer at the local library, helping kids discover the magic of books. Just don't hit me with spoilers—I like my adventures fresh!"
Daan threw the ball at Amir, an Asian guy.
"Yo, I'm Amir Khan. 17 years old. I'm Pakistani and proud of it. You'll probably find me perfecting my crossover on the basketball court or behind the camera filming short stories. But basketball and movies aren't everything. Social justice is huge for me, so let's talk about the issues that matter."
Amir tossed the ball to Fleur, a Dutch girl.
"Hi, I'm Fleur van Rijn. 17 years old, an old soul who loves classic novels. But I'm not just about the past. I love experimenting with vegan recipes—my cupcakes are legendary. When I need a break from the city, you'll find me hiking in the woods or picnicking by the canals."
Fleur passed the ball to Yara, a dark-skinned girl.
"Hey, I'm Yara Mohamed, and I'm here to kick some butt—literally! I'm a kickboxing enthusiast, and it keeps me focused and strong. But fighting isn't everything. I also volunteer with refugees, helping them adjust to life here. There's so much to learn from different cultures, and I believe in building bridges, not walls."
Yeshaya raised his eyebrows. "You must be Somali!"
"Correct!" Yara grinned. She passed the ball to Isabella, a Spanish girl.
"Hola! I'm Isabella Garcia, but most people call me Isa. Flamenco is my soul—music, passion, fire! When I'm not dancing, I'm volunteering at the hospital, bringing smiles to people's faces. Family is everything to me, so don't be surprised if you see a whole crew of Garcias around. The more, the merrier!"
Isabella passed the ball to Abeni, a dark-skinned girl.
"Hey, I'm Abeni. Born and raised in Utrecht, but my parents are from Lagos, Nigeria. Back home, we love hot pepper in everything—Jollof rice with a good kick is my comfort food. I love braiding hair, trying out new styles on myself and my friends. And of course, Afrobeats! The rhythm gets me moving every time."
Abeni threw the ball at Sansula, who caught it with both hands.