Becoming a Teacher in the Midst of Life

New teachers? Bring them on. With real-world experience? All the better. Earning a degree while working? Not easy—but doable. Martin Rühl did exactly that in his forties. While working as a freelance drum teacher, he earned a master’s degree in special education at RPTU and is now in his teaching internship. His takeaway after juggling work and school: stick with it, network, and above all, communicate openly.

“I’ve always really enjoyed teaching as a drum instructor. I realized that working with such a diverse group of students is just my thing. Ultimately, that was the motivation for me to say: I want to give it another shot and build a solid foundation for a career in education,” says Martin Rühl.

The self-employed drum teacher from Karlsruhe has also been performing on stage with bands for many years. Although his decision to pursue a master’s degree in special education at RPTU in his forties was a late one, it fits well with his career path so far: Martin has already worked at several educational institutions and holds a bachelor’s degree. “Even my community service at a residential home for people with disabilities was a positive and formative experience. That’s where I realized early on that working with people suits me.”

“Going back to college from an established career brings with it some unique challenges.”

“Going back to college after an established career brings with it some unique challenges,” says Martin. This starts with questions about financing and insurance, which can get complicated in such cases. And of course, it’s not always easy to balance school and work. “That wouldn’t have been possible without the understanding and support of my family and my drum students, for which I’m very grateful.”

“Double Life” with Benefits

At the same time, his “double life” as a drum teacher and student offered advantages: “I was able to continue earning an income and, as a self-employed person, organize my time flexibly so that I could attend my classes in Landau.”

During his master’s program at the Institute for Special Education in Landau, Martin focused on promoting motor development and holistic development. He wrote his master’s thesis on augmentative and alternative communication. “I received a lot of understanding for the fact that I was working alongside my seminars and exam preparation. The professors were always willing to listen to me,” he says. “Whenever there were organizational issues, we worked together as equals to find solutions.”

The Key: Taking the Initiative

In addition to the excellent support, Martin credits his own approach as key to successfully completing his studies and passing his exams. “It was important to me to be on campus as often as possible. When that wasn’t possible, I communicated proactively and early on—for example, by making use of office hours.” He was able to clarify many issues directly with the faculty at the institute—in a straightforward and efficient manner.

Networking among students—and now with the other teacher candidates—plays an important role for Martin. “Exchanging ideas with fellow students is absolutely crucial,” he says. They supported one another, for example by sharing information and study materials. These connections continue to this day and are helping Martin even during his teaching internship, which he began earlier this year at a school specializing in motor development.

“It would be a lie to say that it isn’t a huge effort to change course again at my age—to study, earn a degree, commute, and earn a living all at the same time.” To others who want to follow a similar path, the aspiring teacher and musician offers this advice: “There are some difficulties, and there are also days when it all feels like too much. That’s unavoidable. It’s simply important not to bury your head in the sand, but to figure out how to deal with it yourself and, above all, to communicate openly. I’ve had very good experiences with this and have encountered a great deal of openness and understanding at the Institute for Special Education. And then, a solution has actually always been found.”