“University Life Here is Amazing”

Why did you decide to come to Germany? 

Part of my family has been living here for years. My sister and her husband studied in Venezuela and later found work in Germany. My mother came to Germany rather by chance: she was working in Colombia, and when she was about to fly back to Venezuela, almost all flights were canceled due to another wave of COVID-19. She managed to get one of the last available flights, which luckily went to Germany, so she could stay with my sister for a short time. Now she has been here for six years (laughs). Because of this, and also because of the political and economic instability in Venezuela, I decided in 2021 to leave my studies in Venezuela and join them here.

Was it possible for you to continue your studies right away in Germany?

No. My Venezuelan school leaving certificate isn’t fully recognized in Germany, and the Jobcenter even advised me against trying to attend university here. But I believed in myself and spent one year at a Studienkolleg, passing the final examination and opening the door to German universities.

Why did you apply for a program in Political Science at the University of Mannheim?

I’m really interested in political questions: How do democracies and dictatorships emerge? How can political systems be stabilized? I chose the University of Mannheim because it has a strong international reputation. And I have no regrets—the university life here is amazing! I also love the central location because you can easily reach so many places in Germany and abroad. I’ve traveled a lot to other countries, but I also enjoy day trips. So far, I’ve visited 32 German cities.

What challenges have you faced during your studies?

The biggest challenge at first was the language. After my first lecture, I doubted myself a lot because I didn’t understand everything. Now, I get by very well.  Once you understand how exams are structured, it’s not so hard anymore. I’ve also learned that it’s much more important to understand the content than to express everything perfectly. It’s okay to make language mistakes from time to time. 

Do you have a favorite moment from your studies so far?

I actually have two. The first was when I stood in front of the Schloss for the first time—it was crazy for me. I could hardly believe that after all the preparation, I had finally made it to study here. I was also thrilled with my grades after my first examinations. I felt really satisfied and realized that I didn’t need to worry so much—I could do it.

Do you know what you want to do after completing your bachelor’s degree? 

I would like to go abroad again and pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy, either at Sciences Po in Paris or at the University of Oxford. After completing my master’s degree, I’ll probably return to Germany, but likely to big cities like Berlin or Munich. There, I’d like to work in consulting for the political sector, which really interests me.

Interview: Tina Ratajczyk / November 2025