Interview
Why did you choose the Degree programme in Early Years Education?
I chose Early Years Education back then because I saw the course as offering me professional flexibility later on. It was clear to me that I wanted to do ‘something with children’. But at the start of my studies, I didn’t yet know exactly what that would be. The career profile of an early years educator appealed to me because it encompasses a wide range of diverse fields of work in the area of working with children. Another advantage for me was that I could actively incorporate the topic of autism – which had interested me even before I started my studies – into my course.
What did you do professionally after graduating?
After graduating, I initially worked at Team Autismus in Mainz, a therapy and counselling centre for people with autism. I had previously completed my Internship semester there as part of my degree. Whilst working, I also studied Psychosocial Counselling and Law (MA) as part of a part-time degree programme at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. The Master’s degree then enabled me to begin my university training as a child and adolescent psychotherapist at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main in 2021. I changed jobs for the training and have since been working in a group practice for child and adolescent psychiatry.
Alongside my studies, I completed further training to become an online counsellor accredited by the DGOB (German-speaking Society for Psychosocial Online Counselling). This ultimately encouraged me to set up my own practice as a psychosocial online counsellor. Since then, I have been offering email counselling on the topics of autism, giftedness and high sensitivity as a side business.
What is your typical working day like?
My daily work routine is very varied due to my different activities. So far, it consists of working days at the practice for child and adolescent psychiatry, teaching sessions at the training institute and a few hours of work at home on my laptop.
At the psychiatric practice, I am mainly responsible for diagnostics. This means I talk to the children and young people about their current difficulties and carry out tests with them, as well as interviews with their carers. Due to my expertise, I am primarily responsible for autism diagnostics. In addition, I offer counselling sessions on the topic of autism for parents, teachers or other carers.
As part of my child and adolescent psychiatry training, I take part in seminars, small-group work and self-awareness courses. These usually take place on-site in Frankfurt. Due to the pandemic, much of this is naturally offered online.
I can carry out my work as an online counsellor comfortably from home. I regularly set aside time during the week to reply to emails from people with autism, giftedness or high sensitivity, or from their carers. I really enjoy all these tasks and find them very inspiring, so that even during stressful periods I can still go to work feeling motivated and in good spirits.
What do you particularly like about your job?
In my job as a psychological psychotherapist (in training), I really enjoy getting to know so many different children and young people. It gives me deep insights into their lives. The trust they place in me and their very individual strengths and skills in dealing with their problems never cease to impress me. I also get to fully express my childlike, playful and creative side in this job. Despite fixed routines, no two days are the same. I really enjoy this variety.
What I particularly like about being self-employed is the flexibility I have. I can organise my own time and work independently of a fixed location. This suits me very well, as it allows me to organise my work flexibly around my other commitments. It’s also great, of course, that through the online service I can reach people who don’t live in my immediate vicinity.
What skills did you acquire during your studies that you can put to good use in your job today?
First and foremost, my degree has equipped me with a wealth of specialist knowledge. The broad range of subjects covered was particularly beneficial. For instance, I benefited not only from the educational content but also from the legal, social science and psychological topics. The course has also fundamentally shaped my view of children and childhood. Through my studies, I was able to develop a pedagogical approach that continues to stand out positively in my professional context. For me, the focus is on the child, which may sound trivial, but is unfortunately often lost when working with children and parents. My capacity for reflection has grown enormously as a result of the course, enabling me to view myself and my work critically on a regular basis, which I find very rewarding and constructive. The course also helped me to develop an awareness of diversity and gender. Ultimately, all these skills ensure that I can interact with children and young people in a mindful, appreciative and reflective manner in my profession.
What advice would you give to current or future students?
Strike a balance! Make the most of your studies whilst ensuring you have enough time for fun. On the one hand, pursue your own interests as part of your studies. Use the time and resources at the university to gain insights into different fields, to try things out and to get to know yourselves better. Have the confidence to bring your own individual interests to the table. I can also highly recommend getting involved in university politics!
On the other hand, enjoy the time and the freedoms you have during this phase of your life. Leisure time and a good work-life balance are very important. And Kleve and the whole border region have a lot to offer (more than you might initially think!). Looking back, I regret not making the most of the diversity and strong international character of HSRW as I could have. That’s why I can only recommend that students think outside the box and engage with students from other Degree programmes or faculties. It can be incredibly inspiring, enlightening and fun all at the same time.
What is your fondest memory when you look back on your time at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences?
That’s actually difficult to answer, because there isn’t just ONE fondest memory, but rather a multitude of truly great experiences. For example, I always like to think back to those little moments when I sat with my fellow students on the canal between lectures on campus and we chatted about everything under the sun. Or the various practical projects we undertook during our studies. For instance, we once let our creative juices flow in the theatre or at a museum, which was absolutely brilliant!
Studying at HSRW helped me get to know myself better – what I’m capable of and where I want to go. And it enabled me to make important contacts that not only helped me professionally, but above all turned into close friendships that remain one of my most important sources of support to this day.
Date of interview: February 2022