Raed Bko from Syria and now residing in The Netherlands, completed the Master in Coaching edition 2023, and shares his experiences with us
On Friday, November 10th, Raed Bko received his diploma for the Master in Coaching from Johan Cruyff Institute. “The themes of the program, the insights gained, and the confidential and safe environment made it a captivating, inspiring, and thrilling journey for me”, said Read and “this journey brought me back to my roots—my original personality, form, values and norms, motivations, pitfalls and insecurities, beliefs, style, (learned) behavior, choices made, perceptions, and culture”. Raed shares his experiences with us.
“You only see it when you get it”
As Johan Cruyff once said, ‘You only see it when you get it.’ The profound impact that the Master in Coaching has had (and will continue to have) is immensely valuable to me. I reflect with pride and joy on the program, eager to share my experiences and the significance it holds for me, particularly in these areas:
- Achieving a better understanding from inner peace (theme: Balance) by bridging perspectives between the Dutch culture and my own Syrian culture.
- Learning to value oneself and express feelings and emotions, and daring to be more vulnerable.
- And at Sport Club Only Friends I learned: ‘You are good as you are’.
Raed with feloow students at the graduation ceremony
The Master in Coaching and the Johan Cruyff Institute have been a wealth of experiences for me. It’s a richness I intend to invest in myself as a person and coach, as well as in others, by contributing to enhanced confidence, knowledge, development, and balance for me and for the other.
“I’ve seen and experienced that where your passion lies and what you consider important can flourish with the right attention”
My intrinsic motivation has been one of my primary driving forces in my football career’s successes, and also in completing the Master in Coaching and my other studies. When there’s a goal in sight, perseverance, teamwork, motivation, and ambition are crucial. I’m willing to make sacrifices and give my all with ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ to achieve a goal.
My personal journey faced significant challenges, and through numerous trials and tribulations, I managed to grow further. It has been a confronting and intense period for me, involving deep contemplation, a search for peace and balance, and seeking help. During the program, I felt supported. Processing information in the Dutch language demanded extra time and energy, but it was all worthwhile. As Johan Cruyff said, ‘Every disadvantage has its advantage.’
Completing the Master in Coaching is not just a personal success for me but also a public one; it symbolizes what a newcomer in the Netherlands can achieve and can serve as an inspiration for other newcomers.
“The future belongs to those who believe in themselves, work hard, and have the patience to achieve their goals”
I am proud what I have achieved, and I hope it will serve as a motivation for other Syrians in Europe, and I aspire to be an example for society and newcomers alike. I aim to dispel limiting beliefs with the new language, social connections, values and norms, and cultural differences.
I extend my sincere thanks to all the teachers and fellow students of the Master in Coaching and all other colleagues at the Johan Cruyff Institute for their expertise, attention, inspiration, insights, trust, and a safe environment! Special thanks to my personal coach, before and during this program. His connection, attention, expertise, and challenging questions during our discussions have meant a lot to me. Thanks to him, I’ve not only grown as a coach but also as a person.
Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my late father, my “idol,” and my mother. They not only raised me but also instilled in me essential human values, teaching me the importance of respecting and accepting everyone, even in the presence of differences. These lessons have proven invaluable in my life, particularly in the Netherlands, a place known for its diversity and cultural distinctions. Dad, I yearned for you to be present during this moment! I also extend my sincere thanks to my family, language coach, colleagues, board members, staff, players, and all those who provided encouragement and unwavering support. I am immensely grateful for the belief placed in me, and it is thanks to this collective effort that we have achieved success!
