Did you already know during your studies which field you wanted to work in?
The answer is a clear “yes and no,” because at various stages during my studies, I would have answered very confidently with a “yes.” At first—up until my teaching internship—I was pretty sure I wanted to become a teacher, and afterward, I shifted my focus to an academic career in early church history. In the end, however, I didn’t pursue either of those paths and ended up somewhere else.
Did you have the opportunity to gain practical experience whilst you were studying? If so, in what form?
Yes, as part of the Optional Bereich of my bachelor’s program, I completed a school internship, and through a practical module in theology, I did an archival internship. Both, however, led me to the - very valuable - realization that neither teaching nor archival work would be the right fit for me. The next step after graduation, namely my doctoral studies at the Studienstiftung, came about through a position as a research assistant at the chair of my future doctoral supervisor, who offered me the job after attending a seminar he taught.
What advice can you give students on how to make a successful start to their careers?
Try out different things while you’re studying and take advantage of every opportunity to gain practical insight whenever it comes your way. And even if you have a clear Plan A, be sure to look left and right along the way. You might discover paths that are worth exploring further.
What did you do after finishing your studies? How did you come to be in your current job?
After graduating, I began working as a research assistant at RUB and spent a total of six years working on my dissertation. During the first year, however, I also completed a second degree in theology. When it wasn’t entirely clear what my next step would be after finishing my dissertation, a job posting from a talent development organization (Begabtenförderungswerk) fell into my lap. During my dissertation, that had always been my somewhat half-hearted “Plan B” alongside an academic career. Since it was a good fit, I simply applied, got the job, and six years later, I’m still working as a consultant in talent development.
What does your typical working day look like at the moment?
My everyday work is pretty varied. I provide guidance to the foundation’s scholarship recipients, whether they’re facing challenges in their studies or looking to find their own path for the future. In addition, I plan and lead educational events ranging from weekend seminars to ten-day academies, and I’m also involved in the evaluation and further development of selection processes. The list could go on and on, as my work is incredibly diverse.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in your day-to-day student life, and how did you overcome it?
Finding true independence was a major challenge at first. This applied not only to my studies, where I had to organize myself and even learn how to study in general, but also to many other areas of life. For me, it worked best not to try to do everything at once, but to tackle one thing at a time, focusing first on one aspect, getting better at it and becoming more independent, and then moving on to the next.
Why did you choose that subject back then?
My passion for the Latin language began when I was still in school, and I knew early on that it would be one of the subjects I would study in college. While searching for suitable degree programs, I added Catholic theology as a second subject because the two disciplines complement each other well. Every subsequent step, all the way to my Ph.D. in classical studies with a focus on early church history, involved both disciplines.
