Class of 2010: Holland-born Lely graduate adjusts to new nation, new future

Sander Langerbeeke Lely High School graduate of distinction

Childhood photo of Sander Langebeeke, the 2010 graduate of distinction for Lely High School

NAPLES — Ask Sander Langerbeeke who he is, and he will tell you without hesitation.

A Dutch boy. He always has been, and always will be.

True, he has lived in Naples since 2001, when his family moved to the United States from Moordrecht, his small hometown in the southern part of Holland. And, yes, between 1992 and 1997, Sander lived in North Carolina. But for the 18-year-old Sander, there’s still no place like the Netherlands.

Nevertheless, it’s not a country he plans to return to permanently after he graduates from Lely High School on Friday.

“It would be another culture shock, and I don’t think I could handle it,” Sander said, smiling.

Sander was about 6 months old in 1992 when his family first relocated to the U.S.; his father works as an adviser for the agricultural company Lely, which prompted the move. Then, in 1997, the Langerbeekes returned to Holland. As a small child, the change barely registered for Sander.

“As a kid, you kind of catch up really easily,” he recalled.

Not so on the Langerbeekes’ second sojurn to the states. By then, Sander was 10 years old and entrenched in his education. In Holland, his school day lasted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. This was partially because the school was located in another city, and the students rode their bikes to class. Sander’s trip was about 12 miles each way.

For many American students, this might sound strange. Or tortuous. Yet Sander still grins when he describes it. He absolutely loved it. There was a great sense of togetherness in Holland, he explained.

“Everyone knows everyone,” he said.

The transition to Naples required him to adjust to a different lifestyle and to absorb a new language in the process. At Lely Elementary School as a fourth-grader, Sander was enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program.

“It was hard because they didn’t have anyone who spoke Dutch,” he said.

At first, he was resistant to the class. Sometimes, when frustrated, he would complete his school assignments in Dutch. But over time, things changed. He spoke with friends, teachers and his English-speaking parents, and he learned, exiting the ESOL program in sixth grade.

Now, Sander hopes to make a career out of education and would like to become a middle-school math teacher. He will begin following that dream at Florida Gulf Coast University in Estero in the fall.

Sander credits his interest in middle school education to his belief that middle school is a pivotal point in a student’s development. Also, he attended the Marco Island Charter Middle School, and had several teachers there he admired.

“I’ve always wanted to be a positive role model in society,” Sander said. “And I think teachers are a positive influence.”

At Lely High School, Sander took two years of the school’s “teacher assist” class, designed for aspiring educators. Teacher assist instructor Robert Alvarez describes Sander as a dedicated student who tries to achieve his best and is always willing to help others.

He considers Sander’s background an asset to understanding the academic challenges of nontraditional students, as well as appreciating diversity in the classroom.

“Middle school is kind of an area that you have to have a calling for,” Alvarez said. “He believes he’s going to be able to reach those students at that age and make a difference in their lives, which is a great thing.”