Expectation meets reality: my conclusion after eight semesters of study

When someone asks Anne what semester she is currently studying, she always answers honestly, but usually with a self-deprecating laugh: "I'm currently in my eighth semester, but I'll probably need two more." At the beginning of her time at university, she actually thought she would be finished after six semesters at the latest. "But I didn't just have an idea of a specific length of study, but also of my time at university in general and how I would use this time." Spoiler: It went pretty differently. Is she now disappointed after eight semesters? "No, not at all. I would do it all over again!" Here, the dual-subject Bachelor's student writes about her experiences.

In contact with first-semester students, for example at the timetable consultation for the two-subject Bachelor's, I often see highly motivated students who usually overfill their timetable with lectures or tutorials. However, these are sometimes only scheduled for the second or even third semester. In addition, people often ask whether the degree program can be completed in the standard period of study. Don't get me wrong, I think it's totally commendable to approach your studies with such commitment and enthusiasm, and I recognize my freshman self in these questions. But there is one thing I always miss: the free time that everyone should use, in addition to lectures and seminars, to arrive, try things out, have fun, celebrate and learn new and interdisciplinary things.

But I also have to say that I only really learned to appreciate this during my studies. How nice it would be to study without financial pressure and not have to finish my studies quickly. In my opinion, studying is an excellent time to make contacts for life and to make the most of your youth. But also to discover your own strengths and interests, to grow and develop. With mistakes, failed exams and all that goes with it.

When I failed my first exam, I was so annoyed that I was on the verge of exmatriculating. I probably wouldn't have done it, but the thought did cross my mind. I thought "you just can't do it and maybe studying isn't the right thing for you?" Looking back, I can't help but smile a little, because as deeply as it affected me at the time, today I couldn't care less and it couldn't be less relevant to my current life.

Of course it's unpleasant to fail exams and I was lucky that it was only my first attempt at the time. But messing up an exam or two doesn't make your studies more or less suitable, worse or better. You always take something away from such personal defeats - even if it's just the realization that you should start studying earlier.

My expectations of myself have also dropped, not because I don't care anymore, but because I've become kinder to myself. It took me a while to find out how I can learn best and how I can take something away for myself in the process. As trite as it sounds, when I have the time and interest to engage with a subject, I find it much easier to study and gain more for my upcoming exam.

At the beginning of my studies, I had no real idea or clue what you can do at university. Of course I passed many stands at the Freshers' Fair, but I was so excited and received so much input that I couldn't really grasp everything. It wasn't until weeks later that I realized how many offers and opportunities the university had to offer me. Starting with the student associations and student councils, in which every student can get involved. There seems to be a group for every area of interest and if not, students can set up a new group. I like the CampusPlus and Unisport activities, which take your mind off the stress of lectures and offer a great opportunity to try out new things.

Not forgetting the various university events and parties that characterize student life. The university offer is also rounded off by academic lectures, key skills courses, workshops, student jobs, language courses and much more. I often wished I had more time to take part in all the things that appeal to me.

What I'm interested in and what I'm not interested in has also changed during my studies. I gained some interests that I hadn't paid attention to before. Conversely, I thought I was totally enthusiastic about a subject or a direction, which later turned out to be less interesting. In my opinion, the time spent studying is predestined to broaden your horizons. This also prompted me, for example, to change my subject combination after two semesters, even though that wasn't actually my plan. Doubts about my studies have also accompanied me throughout my studies. Do you know this too? In my column about study doubts, I've put together what helped me personally.

Fortunately, I was able to overcome my doubts during the course of my studies, because I also started the first semester with them. German Studies and Educational Sciences are not a common combination with which I study for a specific profession. I wanted to be broadly positioned, but at the same time I was afraid of studying something 'breadless'.

What I can already say after eight semesters (and they won't be the last): It wasn't my subjects alone that qualified me to develop an individual professional profile, but it was above all the interdisciplinary courses and opportunities that helped me. My involvement in the student council, my student jobs, the student associations, workshops and events made my time at university exciting and varied. At the same time, I learned many new skills and expanded old ones, acquired a lot of knowledge, tried things out, made mistakes and turned my back on interests. These are the things that I remember most when I think back to my time at university.

My study record so far? The idea of my studies that I had as a first semester student does not correspond one-to-one with the reality that has occurred. Instead of six semesters, I'm still not finished, I'm not an A candidate as I would have liked, and I can no longer recite everything I've learned by heart. But I can say that I've learned an incredible amount, including a lot about myself, had a great time studying and now know much better what I can and can't do. But above all, I no longer have any doubts and have some initial ideas about the direction my career could take later on.

My personal insight is that we usually don't even realize how much we have developed over time and what we have already achieved. Relatively early on in my studies, I started two jobs as a student assistant, at the Competence Center for Studies and Careers (KSB) and in the University Communications Office. A reflection meeting with my bosses made me realize what a positive development I had undergone and how I had been able to develop during these three years thanks to my diverse areas of responsibility and the support of my employers. I didn't expect this development, but I am very grateful for it.

Most of the time things don't go as planned, but wouldn't that be terribly boring?