When did you decide to study and what influenced that decision?
"Math and physics are your thing - machinist or electrician?" That was the question after 10th grade in my home town of Oelde in the Münsterland region, which was dominated by medium-sized businesses. The people around me had amazing careers within their companies, managing departments and companies - without studying. So I started my vocational training as an electronics technician for energy systems in a company for packaging machines. As the eldest son in my family, I was the first to leave school and set off for new shores.
After my training, the thought came up that a 'job in the office' as a master craftsman or technician could perhaps be the next career step. At that time, in the 80s, there were very few apprenticeships, but also few attractive jobs in electrical development.
Therefore: first the Bundeswehr. There I met a lot of people who had clear plans for their studies. In my circle of friends, too, there were some daring people who started studying. So I took a closer look at the subject, visited info days at universities and talked to 'real engineers'. This slowly aroused my interest and motivation. So I enrolled at the University of Paderborn to study electrical engineering.
What hurdles have there been on your career path so far? What helped you to overcome them?
In retrospect, hurdles were more 'before' than 'during' my studies. My parents were professionally anchored in leading positions in the middle class, but had little connection to academic careers. They were very committed to supporting my studies, but they didn't really trust the academic track until my doctoral supervisor put on my doctoral hat after my doctorate - great pride!
In the German education system, no one gets stuck, even if you take a wrong turn. That was backup enough for me to consider studying. When I arrived at the university, the situation seemed surreal at first. Older semesters told of 12 to 16 semesters of study, stays abroad, student life. But all I really wanted was to finish my studies and then get back into practice. So I networked and found fellow students with similar plans. So we got along very well as a group and were able to master our studies as well as the other students.
What personal resources can you draw on?
There were skills that I had acquired on my previous path that helped me find my way around the university: I was used to acquiring information. I had learned to get along with different characters and to move things forward in a solution-oriented way. In my vocational training, I also experienced some really tough, self-inflicted defeats and was able to deal with them. That's why exams and tests have always been more of a sporting challenge than a chore.
What ideas do you have for improving equal opportunities for First Generation Students?
If the driving and advising parental home is missing, first of all advice via teachers or professional acquaintances is important at an early stage. In this way, initial concerns among students and, above all, parents can be dispelled and they can be motivated. In this early phase, universities can provide attractive frameworks through events such as the Children's University or the University Information Day HIT.
First Generation Students' start on the same line with the same potential and possibly even less external pressure. During their studies, close networking with other students is useful and important. The university can also help here. With the appropriate initiative, I therefore see absolutely equal opportunities and equal possibilities for successful studies for the 'First Generation'. Incidentally, I am also aware of this with my daughter, who is now a student and is dealing with exactly the same uncertainties and unanswered questions in her studies as I was back then.
From today's perspective, what message would you give to your student self?
If you really want something, you can do it, but nothing comes from nothing! That is my wife's motto in life and fits perfectly here.