In what situations did you become aware that you were a first-time graduate?
At the beginning of my studies, I received very practical feedback from those around me. For example, how I wanted to earn money with it, but also recognition for the way I organized my studies myself.
What hurdles have there been in your career so far? What helped you to overcome them?
Looking back, the biggest hurdle was not pursuing different fields of study in parallel to keep my options open, but rather committing to one and then pursuing that goal: Finishing psychology, and then learning a specific profession and becoming a behavioral therapist. It took me a few days to realize that. Right after I graduated from high school, I wasn't even aware of my skills and the opportunities that were available. And then there were always the usual hurdles like rejections and rejections. Things you have to learn to accept as normal instead of being impressed by them. You have to learn to move on and develop yourself in the process.
Mentoring by elders was important for me. In high school and during my mandatory internship, I found people who accompanied me for years and showed me directions. In the writing workshop with my old literature professor, we sat as five young and older writers in her living room and talked about our first literary text attempts over tea, cookies, and fruit, surrounded by her many bookshelves.
Later, during my psychotherapy training in the clinical internship, I had many opportunities to directly observe my boss at work. So I was able to learn a lot from observation during rounds, meetings and congresses. This gave me a lot of practical knowledge, for example about how to deal with each other in science and in the clinic. Or about why it's not the lectures but the social evening that's important at a conference. In other words, everything that is not in the textbook.
What personal resources can you draw on?
My skills, knowledge and experience. I grew up in the 1980s as an only child with my parents in Kleinmachnow near Potsdam. For as long as I can remember, I have taken my school-related affairs into my own hands. I am grateful to my parents for having passed on important values to me: Down-to-earthness and pragmatism, perseverance and reliability.
When did you decide to study and what influenced this decision?
When I was in high school, on the one hand I was glad that school was coming to an end. But I was also curious about opportunities to continue learning in a more self-determined way. I was fascinated by foreign cultures and antiquity. Besides, the university was only 30 minutes away from my home by bike.
From today's perspective, what message would you give your student self?
Actively approach people who interest you and from whom you think you can learn something. Observe, learn about different perspectives and lifestyles, and form your own opinions. Learn your skills and do what you do best. It is not so important what you do in (professional) life, but that you do it well.