Ode to Meron Taye | Never too late to reshape your life

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Meron always knew she wanted to do something creative, but the path to get there was not straightforward. Having grown up in Amsterdam, she has strong ties to the capital. “For me, it's always coming home,” she says. Yet her journey was one of self-discovery, challenges and a conscious choice to follow her own path.

Meron initially chose a career in research. She quickly realized that this was not where her passion lay. “I found out that I actually wanted to do much more creative things,” she says. The pressure of expectations – both from herself and from her environment – brought her to a breaking point. A burnout followed, and with it a realization: “I was not living the life I wanted, but the life that others expected of me.”
 

During the lockdown, Meron made a courageous decision. She quit her stable job and chose the unknown. “I thought: why not? I'm still young.” She embraced her love of writing, especially poetry and stories. “I saw more and more people around me who were successful in the creative sector, and that gave me the confidence that it was possible for me too.”
 

Building a new future

Meron started working as an editor for a foundation that focuses on poetry. “There I realized that I didn't just want to write, but also wanted to create a safe space for others.” She immersed herself in storytelling and worked on her first film script. “Writing and directing films, that's my dream.”
 

In addition to her work in the creative sector, Meron writes lifestyle articles for online magazines and calls herself a cultural entrepreneur. “I do a little bit of everything, but always with a focus on community and culture.”

Meron's identity as a black woman plays a major role in her experiences and the challenges she has had to overcome. “I noticed that there was racism and discrimination from a young age,” she says. “As a child, I couldn't find the right words for it, but I did feel that I was treated differently.”
 

Over the years, she has learned to stop hiding this. “It takes a lot of effort to ignore things. Sometimes it seems easier not to discuss racism so that no one feels uncomfortable. But I think it is important to have those conversations.”

Choosing yourself
 

One of the biggest challenges in her life was the transition from a traditional career to a creative path. “My environment was shocked. People said: ‘That doesn't sound like you,’ or ‘That's not stable enough.’” But Meron persevered. “I really had to stand up for myself and believe in myself, despite the doubts of others.”
 

For Meron, black women in the creative sector are a great source of inspiration. “Seeing women who really went for their dreams gave me the courage to do the same.” She hopes that her own story can inspire others. “There is still a lot of inequality in Amsterdam, but I believe in the city and what is possible. The two can coexist.”
 

Her most important message? “We need to listen to each other more, especially to stories we don't often hear.” She believes that women can help and support each other. There is already a lot of compassion, but it can become even stronger by truly listening to each other's experiences.

The power of her mother
 

When she looks back on who has inspired her the most, Meron does not have to think for long. “My mother,” she says with conviction. “She has been through a lot in her life, but has always remained loving and gentle. At the same time, she always stands up for herself. Whether at work or on the street, she fights for equality.”
 

Meron's mother followed her own path of perseverance. “At the age of 45, she decided to go back to school. That showed me that it's never too late to reshape your life.”
 

Today, Meron is working on her first film and continues to write. “I look forward to telling more stories, especially stories that would otherwise remain unheard.” With her experiences and insights, she hopes to inspire others to follow their own path, regardless of the obstacles that come their way. Because, as she has learned herself: “Life is too short not to follow your dreams.”