acknowledgements.tex

\chapter*{Acknowledgements}

\epigraph{Ik ben groepswerk.}{Angelo Tijssens}

Six years is a long time. I am no longer the same person I was. It is not only the ticking of clocks and the passing of days that have changed me, but this process that allowed me to grow and change. It encouraged my curiosity, tested my patience and resolve, and forced me to look within, at my own expectations.
% not just not solely due to the relentless passage of time. 
% This process has allowed me to grow and prosper as a human, encouraged my curiosity, made me resilient to setbacks, tested my patience and resolve, and forced me to look inside, at my own expectations.
Though you might think this work is mine, the doctoral process is shared. This part of the dissertation is not about me, but about you.

% However, similar to how science is a community-based process, so is the doctoral process. This part of this thesis is not about me, but about you.

First, Ruth and Yvan, my supervisors. You were both objectively and subjectively essential. From the first day till the last, you have afforded me with guidance and scientific freedom. Yvan, thank you for allowing me the freedom to pursue projects I valued. Thank you for listening to my concerns, and always being understanding. Ruth, no part of this process could have happened without you there beside me. When I needed accountability, you gave it to me. When I needed to contemplate scientific ideas, you made time. When I was ready to quit this whole process, you were there to catch and reorient me. It is not possible to overstate how indispensable you were.  

% My thesis supervisors, Ruth and Yvan, were absolutely essential in this process. Both on a technical level: one does not graduate without supervisors, as on a human one. 
% From the first day till the last, I was taken under their scientific wings, afforded scientific freedom and provided with guidance.
% Yvan, thanks for allowing me the freedom to pursue projects I valued, always being ready to listen to my concerns, always understanding. 
% Ruth, no part of this process could've happened without you. When I needed accountability, you gave it to me. When I needed someone to vent to, when I needed someone to talk through ideas, you always made time. When I was ready to quit this whole process, you were there to pivot with me. It is not possible to describe/overstate how essential your support and guidance was.

Next, my doctoral jury. Thanks to all of you for the insightful comments and questions posed during all stages of this process. Wouter, my first advisor. I would not have started this process without you, and it still saddens me that we never collaborated after the start.
Robrecht, my non-official advisor. Thank you for taking me along with all your various projects. It is no secret that I enjoyed these immensely, and that our collaborations were a highlight of my PhD. 
Helena, you seemed to sense which parts of my disseration I was most proud of, and complimented me on those. Thank you for that kindness. 
Tim, your thoughtful comments have meaningfully increased the quality of this work. 
Thanks also to Christophe for chairing this doctoral committee.

% I would like to thank all of them for the insightful comments and questions posed during the previous stages of this doctoral process.
% Wouter, as my first ever advisor, I would not have started this process without you. It still saddens me that we never ended up collaborating after the start. 
% Robrecht, my non-official advisor. Thanks for taking me along with various projects, which ended up being very impactful in the final thesis! It is no big secret that I enjoyed these a lot, and that our collaborations were a highlight during my PhD. Your sheer software development knowledge and the speed with which you do this is something I can only aspire to, 
% Helena: as Lotte described very accurately, you seemed to sense which part of our dissertation we were most proud of, and compliment us on these parts.
% Tim: ?
% Christophe?

Als volgende moet ik ook mijn ouders bedanken. Zonder hen zou ik hier niet staan, en ik wil hen expliciet bedanken voor alle steun die ze mij geboden hebben. Louis, de beste broer die ik mij gewenst zou kunnen hebben. Bedankt om naar mijn opvattingen te luisteren en ze altijd proberen te begrijpen.

Sara, telkens ik jou zie ben ik zo blij dat ik je nog ben tegengekomen, daar in de Bron in Tielt. Het is fantastisch om ons volwassen mensen te hebben zien worden. Jouw empathie en volharding is prachtig om te aanschouwen.

% Jouw empathie en doorzettingsvermogen is bewonderenswaardig. Het is fantastisch om ons volwassen mensen te hebben zien worden.
% This type of acknowledgements leads itself to categorisation, but this is not easy. Very few of my friends let themselves be contained to one group. I will endeavour to do this however.

Rien, ik heb nog maar zelden iemand ontmoet die even behulpzaam is als jij bent. Ik ben zeker nog nooit iemand tegengekomen die even \textit{stabiel} is als jij bent. Charlotte, de combinatie van jouw pragmatisme en jouw creatieve verbeeldinskracht is schitterend. Je maakt het mij makkelijker om mezelf te zijn. \marginnote{En met Katsji en Puka ook, wanneer ze dat toelaten.} Ik ben zeer vereerd dat ik jullie vrienden kan noemen, en ben gelukkig dat ik delen van mijn leven met jullie kan delen. % Rien, I have rarely encountered someone as helpful and supportive. I've for sure never met anyone as \textit{stable} as you are. Charlotte, you are always a delight. Your practicality combined with your imagination is a wonderful combination. You make it easier to accept myself as I am.
% \marginnote{And with Cat-sìth and Puka too, when- ever they allow it.} I am very lucky to call myself a friend to you both, and fortunate I can share parts of my life with you.
Sam, jouw inzet en motivatie zijn bewonderenswaardig. Jouw consistentie en standvastigheid maken onze DnD sessies altijd interessant. Bedankt ook aan Chloe en Milo, de schattigste hond ter wereld.

My dambibis: \marginnote{Yes Sai I stole this from you, shame- lessly.} Sai, Lauren, Sofie, Benji, Jonathan and occasionally Arne. Even after finishing this dissertation, I remain convinced that founding the bookclub was the best thing I did in my time in DaMBi. Sofie, your radical empathy radiates brightly and shines so warmly upon the world, and on me as well. Sai, I could only hope to be half as dedicated and considerate as you are. You are an amazing friend to have. Lauren, I admire your determination to speak your mind, especially because you rarely do it for your own benefit. Your righteousness and your sense of fairness on behalf of others is exceptional.
Benji, without you I wouldn't have done half the things I did in my PhD, and what would it have been without the hackathons and the conferences and the talks? You have such a way of nudging people when they need that last push to believe in themselves. Jonathan, your intellect and your sense of equity turns every conversation I have with you into an interesting one. I am delighted I got to know what an amazing person you are.
Arne, our part-time member, thanks for including our club in your club-filled life. 

I can of course not forget \marginnote{Or, more accurately: dr. Strijbol, dr. Van Petegem, dr. Van den Camp and dr. Van der Jeugt} Niko, Charlotte, Heidi and Felix.
My life would be less interesting and joyful without your thoughts and opinions, principles, integrity and music.
Here I will also thank Alexis, my short-lived DM, whose perfect acknowledgements indirectly inspired the cover of the book you're holding.

Bedankingen komen ook nog Jarre, Pieter, Nils en Ciel en Sander toe, om de jaren waar we samen Informatica studeerden, en de jaren daarna, mee invulling, vreugde en plezier te geven.

I must also thank the WINST department and DaMBi research group, the places where I have spent these past years. These groups are wonderful because of the people that belong to them, so: Thank you Arne, Artuur, Annelies, Benji, Daniele, David, Jonathan, Karen, Katrien, Laura, Lauren, Luca, Marlies, Maxim, Newlyn, Pieter, Robbe, Robin, Ruth, Sai, Sarah, Setareh, Sofie, Victor, Xander, Yentl.
Thanks also to Alexis, Annick, Arne, Bart, Charlotte, Dieter, Fatemeh, Felix, Feng, Heidi, Inga, Jari, Jonas, Jonathan, Jorg, Kelly, Linde, Louis, Maarten, Mustapha, Nico, Niko, Rien, Robbert, Pieter, Simon (x2), Steven, Thijs, Thomas, Tibo, Tom, Toon, Wannes en Wout.
If I've forgotten anyone, I am very sorry.

% Ik moet ook de fantastische vakgroep WINST en onderzoeksgroep DaMBi bedanken waar ik de voorbije jaren heb gespendeerd. Deze vakgroep en onderzoeksgroep zijn organisaties die gemaakt worden door de mensen die er deel van uitmaken, dus bij deze: 

It would also be amiss to not thank Lucy and Lily \marginnote{Or Lucifer and Lilith, our tiny demons} for the joy their cat-like presence brings in my life.

En tot slot, Jorg. \marginnote{i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it} 
Mijn beste vriend, mijn lief, mijn man. Ik deel reeds mijn volledige volwassen leven met jou, en dat leven is prachtig door jouw aanwezigheid er in.
Je hebt van me gehouden wanneer ik jouw liefde nodig had, me gedragen wanneer ik gesteund moest worden en me omhelsd wanneer ik jou dichtbij wenste. 

% My best friend, my partner, my husband. You have been alongside me my entire adult existence, loving me when I required to be loved, carrying me when I needed to be carried, embracing me when I wanted your touch.