“Most of the time, the path with the most detours is also the most beautiful one”

This text was translated from German by DeepL.

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Where and how did you grow up?

I grew up with my mother in Munich. My grandparents also live there, and I spent a lot of time with them. After middle school, I actually wanted to become a tourism specialist. However, most companies expected a high school diploma and better language skills than I had at the time. I really wanted to avoid taking a year off. My grandmother, who ran a vocational school and was therefore familiar with many training programs, suggested I become a foreign-language correspondent, a career path I’d never even heard of before. It was a huge challenge for me, since English had long been my weakest subject. To pass the entrance exam for the program, I had to study a lot. I really sat down to study every day and was very disciplined. My English teacher at the secondary school and a family friend, who was also an English teacher, supported me in this. It was a wonderful feeling to see that all that effort had paid off.

How did it come about that, after completing your vocational training, you went on to earn your high school diploma and start college?

Even as a child, I told my mother that I wanted to become a veterinarian. At middle school, we were also often told that you can still earn your high school diploma after completing your intermediate school diploma, and my grandmother encouraged me in that decision. After completing my vocational training, I attended a vocational high school for two years to earn both the subject-specific and general university entrance qualifications. One of the reasons I decided to pursue a college degree was the desire for more opportunities and financial security. I realized early on that, as an only child, I would eventually want to take responsibility for my mother and grandparents. I wanted to create more opportunities for myself to advance both personally and professionally. At the same time, I love acquiring knowledge and diving deep into a subject. I believe that’s what drove me back then.

What are you studying, and why did you choose this major?

During the pandemic, I started my bachelor’s degree in Culture and Economy: English Studies at the University of Mannheim. Although I struggled a lot with languages in high school, I realized during my studies just how much fun they are for me. Since I’ve always been interested in other cultures, this combination of subjects was particularly appealing to me. My grandfather then encouraged me to definitely pursue a master’s degree as well. For that, I wanted to focus more on business, so I decided to pursue the Mannheim Master’s in Management. Currently, I’m particularly interested in the areas of sustainability and innovation. I want to make a difference later on, and I think that with this specialization, I can contribute to that.

What were your expectations for your studies?

I had serious reservations before starting my studies. I was from Munich and had to move to a new city where I didn’t know anyone. At the same time, I had to find an apartment and figure out how to pay for it. Finding an apartment was a challenge, but I was lucky and found something on short notice. On top of that, I started my bachelor’s degree during the COVID-19 pandemic. That made socializing difficult at first. That’s why my semester abroad at the University of Waterloo in Canada was such a wonderful experience. I made friends there who are still in my life today. I miss Canada almost every day.

What was it like for you when you first started college? What challenges did you face?

I did a lot of research and worked my way through the challenges on my own. Of course, I also often talk things over with fellow students, for example, through Legmon e. V., a nonprofit organization that supports young people from non-academic families on their path to college, vocational training, and careers through mentoring and networking. I volunteer there as a mentor and on the social media team. I believe that for people who are pursuing higher education through adult education programs or who come from non-academic backgrounds, there is sometimes an additional hurdle when it comes to approaching professors or others to ask about their experiences or career paths. That’s why I think a mentoring program where students can connect with people at the university who have followed a similar path would be very helpful.

What advice would you give to other students whose path to college didn’t follow a straight line from high school graduation?

It’s okay to take a longer path. Many of us put a lot of pressure on ourselves and have a specific idea of what our path should look like. Often, we’re our own harshest critics. But there isn’t just one way to reach your goals. Most of the time, the path with the many detours is also the most beautiful one. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and happy along the way, regardless of other people’s expectations.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love books and would really like to start a book club, because that’s something I’m still missing here. I also enjoy learning languages. Besides German, I speak English and Spanish, which I learned during my training, and a little Italian, because it’s so similar to Spanish. Right now, I’m learning Russian because of my boyfriend, and Hungarian because I have Hungarian roots on my father’s side.

Do you have a favorite spot on campus or in the city?

The EO Café is one of my favorite spots on campus; I’m so glad it reopened. However, I miss having green spaces on campus, which is why I like to take my dog for walks along the Rhine. There, I like to sit on a bench and look out at the water. For me, it’s a lovely retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Do you already have an idea of what you’d like to do after your master’s?

I’m thinking about pursuing a Ph.D. after my master’s. A while back, I read that out of 100 children whose parents didn’t go to college, only about two go on to earn a Ph.D. I’ve set myself a personal goal: I want to be one of them. After that, I’d like to go into the private sector, ideally in the areas of strategy, innovation, or sustainability.

This text was translated from German by DeepL.

Interview: Maysaa Khalil / October 2026