Thoughts at the beginning of the study
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Teacher or cab driver? - A bachelor student's fight against the clichés
Breadless art. Cab driver. Bookworm. Only for bookworms. Life as an undergraduate student of German studies is not made easy right now. You always have to justify yourself. Why, why, why German Studies? What do you want to do with it?
| Grandma to granddaughter: "My child, tell me again exactly what you want to do with it. The other day at the bakery, Elke asked me what exactly you were studying, and once again I could only tell her in broad strokes where it was going." |
| Ah German studies? So teaching profession. Haupt/ Real? Gymnasium or elementary school teacher training? |
| No - none of the above. You are studying for a Bachelor's degree? What - why that, why not a teaching degree? |
| Um, because maybe I don't want to become a teacher? |
That's how the conversation always goes when you're asked about your professional future as a student of German Studies at . On the one hand, I can understand the discomfort.
On the one hand, I can understand the discomfort of grandparents, back then you learned a "tangible" profession, you had your secure income immediately or promptly and could think about house, farm and family planning. If you baked bread, you were a baker; if you worked on the roof, you were a roofer or carpenter; if you dealt with money, you were a banker; and if your parents had their own farm, it was logical for you to become a farmer as the firstborn. That's how simple, clear and plausible it was in earlier years. And now they have to be afraid that their grandchild won't find a secure profession - with their "breadless" art - and possibly end up under the bridge. At the same time, I keep explaining that there are many career options for a degree in German studies.
A traineeship as a journalist, in public relations, as an editor, lecturer or even in radio and broadcasting. The possibilities are many. I think I myself will be driven into public relations, or a great professional wish of mine would also be to find a job at a radio station.
In addition, it should be seen as a positive thing that the possibilities are still so open to you after graduation, so I can suggest studying the humanities to all free spirits who can't absolutely commit themselves professionally yet. You should just not be distracted, refrain from stupid and ignorant comments and find and go your own professional path through the study .